WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A former dancer with Shen Yun Performing Arts sued the nonprofit dance company Monday, claiming it subjected some children who performed for it to harsh conditions, including long hours for low pay.
The lawsuit filed by Chang Chun-Ko in White Plains federal court sought unspecified damages on behalf of Chang and other alleged victims of Shen Yun, which is based at Dragon Springs in Cuddebackville, New York. as well as other entities named as defendants.
He said the group had adopted some of the most abusive practices in the world. Chinese Communist Party, including subjecting children to public humiliation as discipline, even if persecuted by the CCP.
The lawsuit says Shen Yun made hundreds of millions of dollars by exploiting young dancers recruited overseas, forcing them to work grueling hours and making them believe they would risk harm if they quit.
Shen Yun did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Its website states that 85% of its artists were adults. He called the tour with Shen Yun a “chance of a lifetime” for aspiring young artists, allowing them to receive scholarships worth $50,000 to attend schools registered with the Department of Education. New York State Education or accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
According to the website, Shen Yun, as well as Fei Tian Academy of Arts and Fei Tian College – which were also named as defendants – were founded by followers of the movement. Falun Gong faith.
The lawsuit says Chang joined the Fei Tian Academy of Arts on a full scholarship after her father died when she was 11, because she thought she could help her family by dancing for Shen Yun.
She said she began performing with Shen Yen in December 2009 and received no salary for the first year, although she worked up to 18 hours a day preparing for shows, including seven at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan.
After the first year, she received $500 per month until she “graduated” from Fei Tian College in 2019, when her salary was increased to $1,000 per month, according to the lawsuit.
She trained from May to November before touring from December to May as a dancer in over 100 shows in the United States and abroad, while not being allowed to see her mother except for a two-week vacation once a year, he added.
The lawsuit says she contracted measles when she was 14 but was not allowed to see a doctor. Instead, according to the lawsuit, he was told to meditate to feel better and asked to work while recovering.
Chang was fired from Shen Yun in 2020 when she was 24 and sent back to Taiwan, where she was diagnosed with clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the lawsuit.
