Summary of "Shen Yun: The Dark Side of a Dance Troupe" – The Daily, The New York Times (April 2, 2025)

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Introduction to Shen Yun

Rachel Abrams opens the episode by highlighting the widespread presence of Shen Yun billboards in New York City, characterized by pastel colors, dancers in flowing attire, and inspirational slogans. Despite their ubiquity, many, including Abrams herself, had not delved deeper into the nature of Shen Yun until Nicole Hong conducted an extensive investigation.

"I have seen billboards for Shen Yun literally all over New York City. They are pastel colored. They show people dancing. They're wearing this sort of long, flowy, diaphanous clothing."
— Rachel Abrams [00:34]

Understanding Shen Yun

Michael Rothfeld explains that Shen Yun presents itself as a performing arts group specializing in traditional Chinese dance accompanied by a full orchestra. The troupe is renowned for its high-caliber performances and pervasive advertising campaigns.

"So on the surface, Shen Yun is this performing arts group. They tour around the world. They perform traditional Chinese dance accompanied with a full orchestra."
— Michael Rothfeld [01:55]

Nicole Hong adds that Shen Yun's advertising often features vague yet inspiring slogans, aiming to attract a broad audience without immediately disclosing the underlying messages.

"This season, take an Incredible journey through 5000 years of culture with Shen Yun."
— Nicole Hong [02:30]

The Revelation: Shen Yun as Propaganda

During a Boston performance, Michael Rothfeld observes that Shen Yun incorporates spiritual and political narratives into their dances, notably depicting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

"There's this one dance number we saw where a performer is dressed as a police officer for the Chinese Communist Party, and he is beating up this innocent man with a baton in a violent way."
— Michael Rothfeld [04:00]

This realization propels the investigation into Shen Yun's true purpose: spreading the ideology of Falun Gong and portraying it as a force battling the CCP's oppression.

Falun Gong: Origins and Persecution

Michael Rothfeld provides a background on Falun Gong, a spiritual movement founded in China in the early 1990s by Li Hongzhi, a former grain clerk. Combining elements of Buddhism and qigong, Falun Gong swiftly amassed millions of followers, leading to its widespread popularity both within China and internationally.

"The religious movement, Falun Gong, began in China in the early 1990s... It combines elements of Buddhism with these ancient Chinese energy-based exercises."
— Michael Rothfeld [06:26]

The rapid growth of Falun Gong attracted the CCP's ire, culminating in a severe crackdown starting in April 1999. The government labeled Falun Gong as an "evil cult," initiating mass arrests, torture, and propaganda campaigns to discredit the movement.

"Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are imprisoned. They are sent to labor camps. They are tortured, they are beaten, and some of them never make it out."
— Michael Rothfeld [10:27]

Shen Yun: A Vehicle for Falun Gong's Agenda

In response to the persecution, Li Hongzhi and his followers established Shen Yun in 2006 as a means to garner international attention and support for Falun Gong. The performances are imbued with narratives that emphasize the struggle between Falun Gong and the CCP, effectively serving both as cultural showcases and ideological propaganda.

"Shen Yun is about spreading the message of this religious movement, Falun Gong, to a mainstream audience."
— Michael Rothfeld [05:20]

Exploitation of Performers and Followers

The investigation reveals that Shen Yun's operations heavily exploit its performers and followers:

1. Performers: Many dancers and musicians join Shen Yun at a young age, often residing at the Dragon Springs compound where they undergo grueling training regimes. These performers work excessive hours with minimal or no compensation, enduring strict control over their personal lives and access to information.

   "They were encouraged to inform on your classmates if you see them breaking the rules, and then the rule breakers can actually face these public critique sessions in front of all of their peers."
   — Michael Rothfeld [19:13]

2. Financial Exploitation: Local Falun Gong followers fund Shen Yun's extensive productions through donations and direct financial contributions. Shen Yun operates as a nonprofit but amassed $266 million in assets by the end of 2023, raising questions about the transparency and allocation of these funds.

   "By the end of 2023, they have $266 million in assets. They're making tens of millions of dollars a year in ticket sales."
   — Michael Rothfeld [13:33]

3. Media Manipulation: Shen Yun operates a sophisticated media network, including the Epoch Times, which not only promotes Shen Yun through favorable coverage but also suppresses criticism by controlling narratives and attacking detractors.

   "We found out about this meeting in 2023 where he [Li Hongzhi] gave direct editorial guidance to top Epoch Times editors."
   — Michael Rothfeld [29:42]

Financial Misappropriations and Abuse

A poignant example highlighted is the case of a Shen Yun bookkeeper who, despite donating extensively to the organization, faced severe financial and health consequences. Her medical bills were unpayable due to her donations, and unauthorized luxury purchases on her credit card suggested misallocation of funds intended for Shen Yun.

"The bookkeeper had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for purchases that her family believed were for the Li family and for Shen Yun."
— Michael Rothfeld [26:48]

Media Influence: Epoch Times

The Epoch Times, established by Falun Gong followers, plays a crucial role in promoting Shen Yun and Falun Gong's narratives. Initially focused on exposing CCP abuses, the newspaper shifted towards promoting right-wing conspiracy theories and supporting political figures like former President Donald Trump.

"They have published more than 17,000 articles about Shen Yun, typically glowing audience testimonials after each show."
— Michael Rothfeld [28:58]

Internal documents reveal that negative coverage of Shen Yun is systematically suppressed, and editorial decisions are directly influenced by Falun Gong leadership.

"We found out about this meeting in 2023 where he [Li Hongzhi] gave direct editorial guidance to top Epoch Times editors."
— Michael Rothfeld [29:42]

Reactions and Consequences of the Investigation

Following the publication of the investigation, Shen Yun and Falun Gong have vehemently denied all allegations. They have labeled the New York Times reporters as Chinese spies and mounted personal attacks against them, including disseminating false information aimed at discrediting their credibility.

"They say that our sources are Chinese spies. They're agents of the Chinese government. Their followers have relentlessly attacked the Times. They've attacked me personally."
— Michael Rothfeld [30:54]

Regulatory bodies have initiated inquiries into Shen Yun's labor practices and financial operations. Additionally, legal actions have been filed against the troupe, alleging forced labor and exploitation of performers.

"New York State regulators have been looking into Shen Yun for their labor practices. We also found out that there's a federal criminal investigation into Shen Yun, including into their finances."
— Michael Rothfeld [30:29]

Conclusion: A Persecutor Transformed

The investigation underscores a troubling irony: Shen Yun, established as a refuge for persecuted Falun Gong practitioners, now exhibits coercive and exploitative practices reminiscent of the very suppression it fled from China. Former practitioners express profound disillusionment, revealing how their aspirations for freedom and spiritual fulfillment were subverted by Shen Yun's demanding and oppressive structure.

"This has come up over and over again in our interviews with people who either personally survived the persecution in China or had family members go through it. They've come to the United States as refugees... it was especially devastating once they actually saw how the group operated."
— Michael Rothfeld [31:38]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "So this show has ended up becoming this huge moneymaker for Falun Gong."
  — Michael Rothfeld [13:33]

• "Any mistakes they made on stage could actually doom their audiences to hell."
  — Michael Rothfeld [22:15]

• "We've actually obtained internal editing guides that said anything negative about Shen Yun could not be published."
  — Michael Rothfeld [29:42]

• "It's something that's come up over and over again in our interviews with people who either personally survived the persecution in China or had family members go through it."
  — Michael Rothfeld [31:38]

Final Remarks:

Nicole Hong's investigative reporting on Shen Yun reveals a complex and troubling network of exploitation, financial opacity, and ideological manipulation under the guise of cultural preservation and artistic performance. The episode serves as a stark reminder of how movements seeking refuge and recognition can sometimes mirror the oppressive dynamics they escape.