Shen Yun, the show goes on in Las Vegas with legal battles in tow

Published January 23, 2025 By admin with Comments 0

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — In a few weeks, Shen Yun Performing Arts returns to the Smith Center in Las Vegas with a ticket price that can run you upwards of $100 to $250.

Those paying that price to witness what’s billed as “an extraordinary journey through China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture” may want to understand the allegations of what goes on behind the curtain.

Since 2006, Shen Yun has been the subject of both international acclaim and controversy — criticism of the performance group most recently taking shape in a class-action lawsuit obtained by Channel 13.

Known for their vibrant displays of ancient Chinese dance and music, the dance troupe has entertained masses across the globe, describing their performances as a “revival of the beauty and goodness of China before communism.”

However, critics have put forth stark allegations of a forced labor culture behind the scenes for their performers.

The class action lawsuit, filed in November 2024 by a former Shen Yun dancer, alleges the registered nonprofit is engaged in “an enterprise that has generated hundreds of millions of dollars via forced child labor of vulnerable minors” and depicts a system of coercion and controlled lifestyles at the group’s 400-acre compound called Dragon Springs, about two hours northwest of New York City.

The allegations of malfeasance by Shen Yun have prompted questions about whether or not their performance venues are aware. Channel 13 reached out to the Smith Center, where the troupe performs in Las Vegas, and they sent us this statement:
Shen Yun rents performance spaces around the country for its tours. Local venues are not involved whatsoever in the production, operations or tour logistics of Shen Yun. They simply rent them their facility for a limited engagement.

Shen Yun places and pays for all its own advertising and is responsible for all aspects of its company and its tour.
Perhaps you have seen the extensive marketing campaign referenced by the Smith Center. Shen Yun billboards and posters dot the globe, accompanied by social media and television ad campaigns.

Behind it all is Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa), a spiritual practice based on Buddhist traditions that arose in China during the 1990s.

The lawsuit alleges commercial gain for Falun Gong is the primary objective of its leaders and affiliates — and more specifically for the group’s founder, Li Hongzhi.

Court documents state children are sent to the Dragon Springs compound on the promise of protection and education under Li’s teachings. Once minors are separated from their families, the lawsuit claims, a system of coercion and control takes hold, with performers being told great harm will come to them and their families if they do not comply with a rigorous workload.

There is a notable focus on Li in the lawsuit, a man shrouded in different perspectives. A 2020 investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation depicts Li as a revered god by his followers. In a 1999 interview with TIME magazine, Li alluded to Falun Gong practitioners being able to gain supernatural powers like levitation — and claimed aliens are manipulating geopolitical dynamics with the “ultimate purpose” of replacing humans.

The controversies surrounding his teachings feature prominently in the lawsuit, which describes them as strict practices that may cross ethical boundaries.

These claims are not new. They were the focus of a New York Times multi-part investigation in 2024 that examined many of the allegations around Falun Gong — including limited access to medical care, unfair compensation, long and physically exhaustive hours, prohibiting access to certain media sources and more allegations of breached ethical lines.

Both the Times investigation and the lawsuit rouse suspicion of Shen Yun’s financial holdings.

Their rise to wealth is documented in 501(c)3 filings with the IRS. In 2016, the group listed just over $22 million in revenue and $75 million in total assets. By 2019, those numbers had increased to $33 million and $144 million, respectively.

According to the lawsuit, their 2023 filings listed revenues of $51.5 million and over $265 million in total assets, with cash making up the bulk majority.

Critics allege Shen Yun amassed wealth through financial and emotional manipulation of its performers. The lawsuit points to similar claims of unfair compensation and “strikingly” low overhead costs to cover tours with an average ticket price of $220 with millions sold across five continents. Shen Yun says their amassed wealth isn’t complicated, arguing it shouldn’t be hard for critics to see their success came through hard work and perseverance of their beliefs.

Content retrieved from: https://www.ktnv.com/news/shen-yun-the-show-goes-on-in-las-vegas-with-legal-battles-in-tow.