First woman to helm Qld ballet, replacing Li Cunxin

After a global search, the company settled on home-grown talent: Rockhampton-born Leanne Benjamin will be the first woman to take up the role and the company's sixth artistic director.

Benjamin retired from The Royal Ballet at the age of 49, having worked with the likes of Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Kenneth MacMillan, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Darcey Bussell.

She began learning ballet at the age of three and debuted on the international stage at 16, quickly winning prestigious awards for her artistry.

Due to health issues, Li is bowing out of the Queensland Ballet on Wednesday after 11-years at the helm, having built the company into an organisation of global standing.

Queenslanders will be excited about the appointment, said Li.

"The last 11 years have been an absolute privilege and there is always a niggle around preserving one's legacy," he said.

But Benjamin's experience and passion for the Queensland community would stand the company in great stead, he said.

Benjamin also paid tribute to her friend Li as the announcement was made, saying he had transformed the Queensland Ballet.

"I have worked with the most inspirational dancers, choreographers and creatives in the ballet world, and the most beautiful part of my story now, is that I will be coming back to Queensland, where it all began," she said.

Among Benjamin's many accolades is being named Australian of the Year in the UK for 2023.

The Queensland Ballet has recently held gala performances featuring excerpts from Li's time in charge, to mark his retirement, and the final performance of his tenure will be The Nutcracker at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday night.

Li is also widely known for his autobiography, Mao's Last Dancer, which describes his early life in China and defection to the US in the 1980s, and was adapted into a feature film.

Benjamin will start with the Queensland Ballet early in 2024.

Australian Associated Press