What Is Going On with Shen Yun? All About the Controversy Surrounding the Chinese Dance Group
Published By admin with Comments 0
Founded in 2006, the dance group advertises itself as a celebration of China’s culture and heritage that brings performers from all over the world to train in New York before touring globally.
While Shen Yun appears graceful and colorful on the prolific amount of billboards and advertisements posted around the world, former performers started speaking out more vocally in 2024, accusing the dance group of an abusive environment behind the scenes.
In response to some of the accusations that surfaced in November 2024, Shen Yun’s representatives released a statement maintaining that students’ participation is fully voluntary.
“Sure, some people leave because it’s not for them, and that’s perfectly fine,” the statement read, per The New York Times. “But the vast majority of students will tell you this is their dream come true, and the parents rave about the positive changes in their children.”
So, what are the allegations being leveled against Shen Yun? Here’s everything to know about the controversial dance group and the accusations made against them.
Shen Yun is a classical Chinese dance company that focuses on “bringing to life a lost culture through beautiful art,” per the group’s website.
With vibrant costumes and backdrops, the performances tell a story of the “beauty and goodness of China before communism,” per the website.
But, the group is more than just an entertaining performance. Spiritual leader and the founder of Falun Gong, a religious movement, Li Hongzhi is one of Shen Yun’s co-creators, co-created the show to help amplify the beliefs of the religion.
Although the dance group is registered as a non-profit organization, it has become a money-maker for Falun Gong, per The Daily, which also shared that tax records show that the group has $266 million in assets and makes well over $10 million a year in ticket sales.
Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa, is a religious movement that emerged in China in the early 1990s, per CNN. Led by Hongzhi, the religious sect was also created in opposition to the Chinese communist party, frequently hosting protests in the streets of Hong Kong against the government.
Shen Yun describes Falun Dafa on their website as a “mind-body practice guided by the principles of truth, compassion, and forbearance.”
“They meditate together, study teachings together, and believe that cultivating the heart is the way to create art that is truly sublime,” the site reads.
It is common practice for Shen Yun performers to meditate backstage before a show, specifically drawing inspiration from Falun Dafa’s teachings, discipline and guidance, per the group’s website.
“For our performers, practicing Falun Dafa is more than just meditation,” the site reads. “It’s a state of mind that guides daily life, oriented toward self-betterment, taking responsibility, and putting others first.”
Despite advertising itself as a celebration of Chinese culture, Shen Yun is not allowed to perform in China due to its association with Falun Gong, which is also anti-communist, per AP News.
As detailed on the dance group’s website, Shen Yun makes various references to “Dafa” throughout its shows, including a dance that tells the story of China’s persecution of those who practice it.
According to CNN, Falun Gong was banned and suppressed from China in 1999. The Guardian reported in July 2009 that Falun Gong members had been persecuted for practicing the movement’s beliefs since it was banned, with supporters outside China claiming that 2,000 people have died in custody since 1999.
In August 2024, The New York Times published an investigation into the performing arts group, revealing that many of its performers had claimed to be working under abusive conditions for years.
According to the outlet, performers were routinely discouraged from seeking care for injuries, as Hongzhi pushed the message that his teachings could expel illnesses from their bodies without medical treatment.
Some performers told the outlet that when they got sick or injured, instructors led them to believe something was wrong with their spiritual state, per the outlet. Meanwhile, others danced through dislocated kneecaps and sprained ankles as a way to avoid being labeled as unfaithful to Hongzhi, who they were taught to see as a living god and creator of the universe.
Representatives of Shen Yun and Falun Gong denied the allegations to the outlet, claiming that performers who got hurt did not go without medical care.
Dancers also alleged they worked long hours for little to no pay. For example, despite performing more than 800 shows a year, some performers in their mid-20s were being paid $12,000 or less, per The New York Times. Shen Yun representatives claimed that their dancers were paid a legally allowed amount that was in keeping with industry standards.
Additionally, some former Shen Yun performers detailed experiencing an atmosphere of fear, including being subjected to emotional abuse and manipulation.
Content retrieved from: https://people.com/what-to-know-about-controversial-dance-group-shen-yun-11707856.
