Li, born in 1961, grows up during the Cultural Revolution with his parents and six brothers in the poor province Shandong. When he is eleven, he is selected for the heavy, strict and ideological ballet academy of Mao's wife Jiang Qing in Beijing. Li turns out to be a great talent and is spotted by Ben Stevenson, the artistic leader of the Houston Ballet. As one of the first exchange students, Li get sthe opportunity to travel to America and leave Mao's communist regime behind. After the first culture shock he embraces his freedom, and refuses to return to China.

Paris, 1913. Coco Chanel is absorbed in her work and has fallen hopelessly in love with Arthur 'Boy' Capel. At the Champs-Élysees theatre in Paris, the premiere of Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' takes place. Coco is present and impressed by the composer's work. However, the performed revolutionairy masterpiece seems to be too modern and radical, provoking the audience to be insulted and angry. Stravinsky is left disheartened.