Shen Yun

This article is about the dance company. For the subway station, see Shenyun station.
Shen Yun Performing Arts
Company typePrivate nonprofit organization
IndustryDance, symphony orchestra
FoundedAugust 16, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-08-16)
FounderPractitioners of Falun Gong
Headquarters
Deerpark, New York, U.S.
Area served
International
DivisionsNew York Company, International Company, Touring Company, World Company
Websiteshenyun.com
Shen Yun
Traditional Chinese神韻藝術團
Simplified Chinese神韵艺术团
Literal meaning"Divine rhythm arts troupe"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinShényùn yìshù tuán
Wade–GilesShen2-yün4 i4-shu4 t'uan2
IPA[ʂə̌n.yn î.ʂû tʰwǎn]
Hakka
Pha̍k-fa-sṳSṳ̀n-yun Ngi-su̍t-thòn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSàhn wahn ngaih seuht tyùhn
JyutpingSan4 wan6 ngai6 seot6 tyun4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJSîn-ūn gē-su̍t thôan
Tâi-lôSîn-ūn gē-su̍t thuân
Eastern Min
Fuzhou BUCSìng-ông ngiê-sŭk tuàng

Shen Yun Performing Arts (Chinese: 神韻藝術團; lit. 'divine rhythm arts troupe') is a United States–based non-profit performing arts and entertainment company that tours internationally, producing performances including dance and symphonic music.[1][2] It is operated by the Falun Gong new religious movement.[3] Shen Yun is composed of eight large performing ensembles,[4] with a total of approximately 480 performers.[5] Shen Yun has performed in front of millions[6] and has toured more than 200 cities across Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia.[4][6][7]

Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by Chinese expatriate adherents of Falun Gong, and is based at the Dragon Springs compound in Deerpark, New York, near where the group's leader Li Hongzhi and his followers reside.[8][9][10] Falun Gong adherents pay to rent the performance venue, promote the show, and sell tickets. After expenses are covered through ticket sales, proceeds go to Shen Yun.[1] The finances of Shen Yun and Falun Gong appear to be linked, with technically separate corporations sharing funds, executives and the same mission.[3] Li Hongzhi describes the Shen Yun performance as a means of "saving" audiences.[1]

Shen Yun's performances have been described as promoting sectarian doctrines and negative views of evolution and atheism.[11] The group is promoted by The Epoch Times, a far-right media outlet affiliated with Falun Gong.[3][12] In 2019, an NBC News assessment concluded that the Epoch Media Group and Shen Yun "make up the outreach effort of Falun Gong".[3] The Chinese government bars Shen Yun from performing in China, as it considers Falun Gong to be an "anti-society cult" and has attempted to cancel its performances abroad by pressuring theaters and governments.[13][14]

  1. ^ a b c Junker, Andrew (2019). Becoming Activists in Global China: Social Movements in the Chinese Diaspora. Cambridge University Press. p. 99. ISBN 9781108655897.
  2. ^ Tigas, Mike; Wei, Sisi; Schwencke, Ken; Roberts, Brandon; Glassford, Alec (9 May 2013). "Shen Yun Performing Arts Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Zadrosny, Brandy; Collins, Ben (20 August 2019). "Trump, QAnon and an impending judgment day: Behind the Facebook-fueled rise of The Epoch Times". NBC News. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b StackCommerce (20 December 2022). "Shen Yun Performing Arts: An American Success Story Inspires Growing Companies". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Shen Yun Performing Arts at Queen Elizabeth Theatre". Queen Elizabeth Theatre Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b Hodara, Susan (13 August 2010). "5,000 Years of Chinese Music and Dance, in One Night". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Shen Yun 2020". FOX40. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  8. ^ Hunt, Mary Ellen (4 January 2009). "Chinese New Year Spectacular in S.F., Cupertino". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  9. ^ Wenzel, John (1 October 2007). "Chinese New Year embracing tradition". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  10. ^ Junker, Andrew (2019). Becoming Activists in Global China: Social Movements in the Chinese Diaspora. Cambridge University Press. pp. 99–101. ISBN 9781108655897.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference newyorker_2019-03-19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Dowd, Katie (4 January 2021). "Epoch Times, one of Trump's favorite 'news' sources, is linked to Shen Yun". SFGATE. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  13. ^ "New York dance troupe says China banned shows over Falun Gong links". TheGuardian.com. 6 May 2016.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference BRASLOW-2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).