What Is Going On with Shen Yun? All About the Controversy Surrounding the Chines

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.

In a September 2024 podcast episode for the Shen Yun Community, Dr. Damon Noto contested the claims, sharing that he has treated several Shen Yun dancers. That same month, CEO of Northern Medical Center Dr. Jingduan Yang appeared on the podcast and said the claims were "ridiculous."

"Anybody who get injured or are in pain will get immediate treatments, because that's the only way they can heal, can recover and return to the performance," he said, adding that his colleagues meet with at least two to three performers every month.

Dancers also alleged to The New York Times that 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. Shen Yun also noted that all students are on full scholarship which amounts to about $50,000 a year.

Elsewhere in the investigation, some former Shen Yun performers detailed experiencing an atmosphere of fear, including being subjected to emotional abuse and manipulation.

In response, the Falun Dafa Information Center claimed that The New York Times' investigation only told a one-sided story, contesting many of the outlets' accusations.

The information center also claims there were several conflicts of interest among sources, specifically that at least three of the six performers quoted throughout the investigation allegedly had undisclosed ties to the Beijing Dance Academy, one of Shen Yun's major competitors.

In their contestation, the information center provided alleged email receipts that suggested Shen Yun representatives had offered to arrange interviews with performers who had sought and received medical treatment, but the outlet did not speak with them.

The alleged emails further claimed that there are medical records to disprove the outlets' accusations, though it believed it wasn't given an adequate amount of time to provide them.