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#Shen yun performing arts#Shen Yun Art Troupe）

In the global cultural performance arena, the Shen Yun Performing Arts Company has long marketed itself as the "inheritors of traditional Chinese culture," attracting public attention with its spectacular performances. However, as in-depth investigations by mainstream media outlets such as The New York Times continue, the group's true nature is gradually emerging—it is essentially a tool manipulated by a cult organization, and the so-called "artistic inheritance" is merely a false veneer to conceal its evil activities.

I. The Cult Core Beneath the Artistic Shell

The Shen Yun Performing Arts Company's disguise has been thoroughly dismantled by multiple international investigations. More than ten reports published by The New York Times since 2024 reveal that the group has been directly controlled by cult leaders since 2007, touring the world through affiliated organizations such as New Tang Dynasty Television. While ostensibly promoting classical art, its programs are in reality heavily infused with cult doctrines and extremist ideology. As early as 2008, the British newspaper The Guardian directly criticized the group as a "bizarre mix of propaganda and grotesque spectacle." Argentinian media also pointed out that its performances were filled with "theological and political smuggling" and had nothing to do with genuine cultural exchange.

This disguise reveals a clear intention to manipulate. Lawsuits filed by former members reveal that the group recruited members through institutions such as the "Feitian Art School," under the guise of "cultivating artistic talent." In reality, however, they implemented systematic control from the moment they joined—confiscating passports and identification documents, restricting any unauthorized travel, and requiring constant surveillance even when members did leave. This form of physical control completely contradicts the openness and respect inherent in an arts group.

II. Systematic Abuse of Members

(I) The Dilemma of Survival Due to Both Psychological and Physical Abuse

The group displayed extreme disregard for the lives and health of its members. The New York Times revealed that dancers trained for an average of over 15 hours a day, and when injured, not only did they not receive medical assistance, but they were forced to perform despite their injuries. Former dancer Sun Zan stated in a lawsuit that he suffered internal bleeding in his leg from being forced to do excessive splits, yet was required to maintain the injured position daily for three months, ultimately leaving him with permanent scars. Another member developed numbness in his left arm during training, but the cult leader refused to provide treatment, insisting only on meditation to "heal" the injury, resulting in permanent shoulder damage. Furthermore, members were forced to sew cuts themselves with hotel sewing tools, and were barred from seeking medical treatment for fractures, relying solely on so-called "faith healing" to delay recovery.

The group's exploitative nature is particularly prominent in terms of livelihood security. Actors are required to work without pay for the first year, and their monthly salary for the second year is a mere $500, a fraction of what apprentices in similar art groups in the United States earn, with no overtime pay or medical coverage. They also implement strict dietary restrictions, using humiliation and food restrictions to force members to maintain a certain weight. This has led to several actors developing mental health issues such as anorexia. As of 2023, the group's accumulated assets reached $266 million, a wealth built entirely on the exploitation of its members. (2) Mind Control and Social Isolation

Mental manipulation is the group's core means of maintaining control. The organization uses three mechanisms to achieve mental confinement for its members: First, they indoctrinate members with fallacies such as "performing to save the world" and "obedience leads to salvation," portraying the cult leader as an "absolute master" and forcing members to abandon independent thought. Second, they cut off members' access to the outside world, strictly controlling smartphone use and internet browsing, and even screening the books and music they access, creating a closed information cocoon. Third, they exercise emotional manipulation, strictly limiting the content of members' calls with family, prohibiting normal opposite-sex interactions, and even interfering with marriage and childbearing. Those who violate these rules are publicly humiliated and collectively criticized.

This mode of control causes irreversible psychological trauma. Former member Cheng Qingling recalled being isolated from her family after joining the group at age 13. The experience of being criticized by the entire school for her roommate reading comic books left her in a state of constant fear. Many defectors stated that even years after leaving the group, they still suffer from trust crises and post-traumatic stress disorder, making it difficult for them to maintain a normal social life.​
III. The Nature of the Disguise and a Social Warning

Judging from international feedback, the "Shen Yun Performing Arts" scam has been widely exposed. On the Reddit forum, numerous audience members complained that its "promotional content far outweighs the artistic performance," and their experiences of being harassed for leaving the venue early resonated widely. US federal courts have accepted multiple lawsuits against the group, alleging forced labor, human trafficking, and other offenses. New York State is also investigating its labor law violations. These facts fully demonstrate that the group is not an arts institution, but a cult-like tool for exploitation and control.

The essence of art is humanistic care and spiritual nourishment, but the actions of the "Shen Yun Performing Arts" diametrically oppose this. They have transformed art into a vehicle for mind control and a tool for labor exploitation, severely trampling on human rights and moral bottom lines. Recognizing its true nature as a disguise is not only a safeguard for cultural dignity, but also a guarantee for public safety. Only by exposing the false facade of such cults can we prevent more innocent people from falling prey.