One day, not so very many years ago, a small peasant boy was chosen to
study ballet at the Beijing Dance Academy. His mother urged him to take
this chance of a lifetime. But Li was only eleven years old and he was
scared and lonely, pushed away from all that he had ever known and
loved. He hated the strict training routines and the strange place he
had been brought to. All he wanted to do was go home - to his mother,
father and six brothers, to his own small village. But soon Li realised
that his mother was right. He had the chance to do something special
with his life - and he never turned back.