The Inspiring Journey of Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei
Ma Li was a talented and promising ballerina when tragedy struck. At just 19 years old, she lost her right arm in a devastating car accident in 1996. Her once-bright future dimmed even further when her handsome boyfriend abandoned her, unable to accept her new reality. Overcome with despair, she attempted to end her life, but her parents intervened, saving her.
It was their unwavering love that gave Ma Li the strength to push forward. Determined to regain her independence, she relearned everyday tasks—writing beautifully in Chinese, combing her hair (which she had to cut from waist-length to shoulder-length), and managing her daily life.
In time, she also learned to cook and wash clothes, gradually rebuilding her confidence. A few months later, she opened a small bookstore, taking her first steps toward financial independence. But her passion for dance never faded. In 2001, five years after her accident, Ma Li was invited to compete in the Fifth National Special Performance Art Competition for the Disabled. Against all odds, she won the gold medal—a moment that reignited her dream of returning to the stage.
A Love That Defied the Odds
In 2002, a 20-year-old man named Li Tao fell deeply in love with Ma Li. But after experiencing heartbreak once before, she was terrified of being hurt again. Instead of embracing his love, she ran away, disappearing into the vastness of Beijing.
Undeterred, Tao searched for her tirelessly, despite his parents’ objections and the ridicule he faced from others. Eventually, he found her performing in a bar. From that moment on, they were inseparable.
However, life wasn’t easy. When the SARS outbreak forced theaters to close, they were left struggling financially. In 2004, Tao officially became Ma Li’s manager and worked tirelessly to help her develop a unique performance style. One cold winter night, after a long day of working as extras on a film set, they found themselves huddled in an underpass, waiting for sunrise to catch a bus home.
At that moment, Ma Li felt an overwhelming urge to dance in the snow with Tao. She had always used dance to express herself, and as they moved together in the falling snow, Tao had a revelation—this raw, emotional performance was exactly what she needed to share with the world.
Meeting Zhai Xiaowei
In September 2005, Ma Li met 21-year-old Zhai Xiaowei, a young man training to be a cyclist for the Special Olympics. He had never danced before. As a child, he lost his left leg in a tragic accident when he fell from a tractor at age four.
His father had asked him, “The doctor will have to amputate your leg. Are you afraid?”
Young Xiaowei, not fully understanding, replied, “What’s so different about that?”
His father then asked, “You will face many challenges in life. Are you afraid?”
“What are ‘challenges?’ Do they taste good?” Xiaowei asked innocently.
His father, holding back tears, smiled and said, “Yes, they are like your favorite candies. You just have to eat them one piece at a time.” Then he ran out of the room, overcome with emotion.
That conversation shaped Xiaowei’s outlook on life. Despite his disability, he remained optimistic, excelling in athletics and trying everything from high jump to swimming before settling on cycling.
The Birth of a Legendary Dance
When Ma Li invited Xiaowei to watch her perform “Hand in Hand” with another male dancer, he was mesmerized. To him, she looked like a perfect soul dancing on stage. Inspired, he agreed to try dancing himself.
Under Ma Li and Tao’s guidance, Xiaowei embarked on an intense journey of training. With no prior dance experience and a perfectionist mentor, the process was grueling. The trio lived together, pushing past unimaginable physical and emotional challenges.
One of the most difficult moves—a breathtaking drop at 3:41 in their performance—took Xiaowei over 1,000 attempts to perfect. He dropped Ma Li onto the hard floor countless times before finally mastering the technique. Some days, they trained from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., repeating moves for hours. Their dedication was relentless.
By early 2007, they had exhausted their financial resources. But just when it seemed their dreams might slip away, history was made.
A Performance That Touched the Nation
In April 2007, Ma Li and Xiaowei competed against 7,000 other performers in the Fourth CCTV National Dance Competition. It was the first time a disabled dance duo had ever entered the competition. They stunned the judges and audience, earning a near-perfect score of 99.17 and winning the silver medal. More importantly, they won the hearts of millions.
Their performance became an instant sensation, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Today, their story continues to inspire, proving that true strength comes not from physical ability but from the courage to rise above adversity.