Shen Yun colors itself as a dance company working to keep traditional Chinese culture alive while assailed by the Chinese government. But a recent lawsuit filed by two former dancers paints a different picture, according to The New York Times and AOL News. Accused of building an “army of forced laborers,” it’s a picture colored by child labor with all the earmarks of modern slavery.
Mastermind of a “forced labor scheme”
A Shen Yun dance performance features elaborately costumed dancers leaping and twirling before digital backdrops of traditional, bucolic Chinese scenes. But it quickly becomes clear this is a performance with an agenda. Banned in China, Shen Yun has deep ties to Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that’s sharply critical of the Chinese Communist Party and whose practitioners are targeted by the Chinese government for wrongful imprisonment and organ harvesting.
Two former dancers, Sun Zan and Cheng Qingling, say Shen Yun is guilty of using forced child labor. Shen Yun recruits children globally to attend their youth academies in the US, called Fei Tian. Cheng and Sun were two of those children, recruited at 13 and 15 respectively.
Cheng stated in the lawsuit against Shen Yun,
“These sham schools operate as a cover for the forced labor scheme. Under the cover of their purported educational purpose, the Fei Tian schools ensure an ongoing supply of forced child labor to Shen Yun without attracting scrutiny.”
Pointing to the $266 million the suit says Shen Yun accumulated, Cheng alleges the scheme generates massive profits. Profits made possible by the use of forced child labor. Performers are forced to train up to 15 hours a day. They adhere to a rigorous tour schedule. And all for meager compensation.
Humiliation and violence “commonplace”
Cheng and Sun outline a system of control using psychological and physical tactics in a high-fenced compound evidently akin to a “penal colony.” With their passports locked in a safe, they describe dancers as having a “dreadful existence.” Priority was given to dancing instead of schooling with six-day workweeks for training and religious practice. Only two or three hours each day were for classroom time.
According to Sun and Cheng,
“A late-arriving child laborer could expect to have an instructor’s shoe strike their head moments after walking in, (with instructors telling them) …it was an indication of talent, and they should be thankful for being beaten.”
Leaders also instilled fear by using schoolwide assemblies to shame any rule-breakers. As Mr. Li taught that only faith can purge the body of illnesses, all dancers were expected to perform through injuries without medical treatment.
The new lawsuit is actually the second civil action targeting the group and its leaders in less than a year. In November 2024, a lawsuit accused Shen Yun of forced labor and human trafficking, saying Li threatened dancers if they didn’t cooperate. Consequently, the New York State Department of Labor opened an inquiry into Shen Yun’s labor practices. The latest lawsuit accuses Shen Yun of forced labor, human trafficking, and other violations of the Federal Trafficking Victims Protections Act and is seeking damages for physical and psychological injuries.
Addendum May 12, 2026
We have received concerns about the reporting in this article. We understand that experiences can vary and that not everyone agrees with the reporting on which this piece is based.
As with many industries, cases of forced labor are not representative of every worker’s experience. A former Shen Yun dancer has publicly shared their positive experience in Newsweek, and we understand that over 1,500 current and former performers and parents have signed a petition raising concerns about the allegations. We also acknowledge that Shen Yun was founded by artists fleeing religious persecution in China as Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong members face severe persecution by the Chinese government and its supporters—including through forced labor.
Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.
My two daughters both toured with Shen Yun, as a part of the school’s curriculum while studying at Fei Tian Academy and College. They loved it, and never said anything about being mistreated. I met their classmates too, and they all seemed very happy. So I think this lawsuit is extremely misleading, and insulting to us as parents. Our family is very close, and my daughters tell us EVERYTHING. If they were being abused, I would bring them home straight away. I’m sure any parent would do the same.
Thank you to the kind-hearted people genuinely concerned for our well-being. I have been a Shen Yun dancer for over a decade.
Just this past tour, our company bus tires were dangerously slashed and we received death threats. Someone even faked an X account, impersonating my company manager in an effort to defame us. The Chinese Communist Party tries hard to spread misinformation about my community. I suspect this lawsuit is part of such a campaign. This article does NOT pass the smell test.
I’ve been with Shen Yun for 14 years, and I’m sick of these ridiculous accusations. Such baseless claims and fabrications are embarrassing. There’s no child labor here—it was a joy to perform with professionals while getting an education, and I met amazing people and had fun. When I injured my shoulder last year, I freely sought medical aid.
My colleagues and I have spoken out. We’re tired of mainstream media brushing our stories aside to further their own agendas. When will the inanity end?
Thank you for your concern for Shen Yun performers, but my experiences differed quite starkly. Instead of speaking with a sense of one-sided absolutism, what about presenting the other side of the story as well?
As a former SY performer, I hope more people can be aware of the distortions being spread throughout many large media channels. I encourage you to read about my personal experiences here:
https://www.newsweek.com/i-was-former-shen-yun-dancer-pr
Thanks for sharing your perspective—we appreciate hearing from people with direct experience. Our piece was based on reporting from The New York Times and AOL News, which covered the details of a recent lawsuit and previous legal action involving Shen Yun. Since these are serious allegations that touch on issues we campaign on, like forced labor and exploitation, we felt it was important to cover them. We understand that experiences can vary and that not everyone agrees with the reporting. We will continue to monitor the case as it unfolds. We value this kind of respectful dialogue and are grateful… Read more »