Mao's last dancer Li Cunxin could receive an early birthday present if he's named Australian of the Year.
The Queensland finalist says he's humbled to be among the contenders for the honour ahead of the announcement in Canberra on Saturday evening.
Coincidentally Australia Day is also Li's birthday.
"Australia is a country that has captured my heart and imagination from day one," he told reporters.
"It's a day for us to realise just how important the freedom and privileges Australians have in this country."
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Li was born into poverty in rural China and was spotted by Madam Mao's Beijing Dance Academy at age 11.
After a gruelling training regime, Li became one of China's foremost ballet dancers and was awarded a cultural scholarship to study in America.
In 1981, he defected to the West and fell in love with Australian-born ballerina Mary McKendry and, in 1995, moved to Australia to become principal artist with The Australian Ballet.
The best-selling author, whose life story was adapted to film in 2009, says if he wins he will be strong advocate for the arts and will lobby for extra government funding.
"I will definitely be asking the government and community to be placing more importance on culture," he said.
"It's also about building cultural bridges between different people."
