WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A former performer for Shen Yun Performing Arts has filed a lawsuit against the nonprofit dance organization, alleging that young dancers endure severe working conditions, including extended hours with minimal compensation. The legal action was initiated by Chang Chun-Ko in federal court situated in White Plains, where she is seeking unspecified damages for herself and other claimed victims linked to Shen Yun, which operates from Dragon Springs in Cuddebackville, New York, alongside several other named defendants.
The lawsuit contends that Shen Yun has employed abusive practices reminiscent of those of the Chinese Communist Party, highlighting accusations of public humiliation as a means of discipline for child performers. This occurs even as the organization itself claims to face persecution from the same party, thus raising questions about their treatment of dancers.
Asserting that Shen Yun has generated substantial profits, the lawsuit accuses the company of exploiting young international dancers, subjecting them to exhausting work schedules and instilling fear about potential repercussions if they choose to leave. The organization did not provide an immediate response regarding the allegations.
On its official site, Shen Yun claims that 85% of its performers are indeed adults and describes the touring experience as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for aspiring young artists. They assert that participating in its productions can provide up to $50,000 in scholarships for education at institutions recognized by the New York State Department of Education or those accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The lawsuit identifies that Shen Yun, alongside the Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and Fei Tian College—also named as defendants—was established by practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement. Chang reported that after her father’s passing at age 11, she joined the Fei Tian Academy on a full scholarship, believing that performing with Shen Yun could financially assist her family.
According to the legal filing, she began working with Shen Yun in December 2009 and her initial year was unpaid, despite putting in up to 18 hours daily in preparation for shows, including performances at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Following that first year, her compensation was set at $500 a month until her graduation from Fei Tian College in 2019, when it was increased to $1,000 monthly.
Chang described her rigorous schedule, which consisted of training from May to November and touring from December to May, during which she performed at over 100 shows both domestically and internationally. Notably, she was reportedly restricted from visiting her mother outside of a two-week annual holiday.
The lawsuit states that at age 14, she contracted measles but was denied medical attention, being instructed instead to meditate for recovery while still being compelled to perform. Chang was dismissed from Shen Yun in 2020 at the age of 24 and subsequently returned to Taiwan, where she was diagnosed with clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as alleged in the lawsuit.