Shen Yun Performing Arts, a globally recognized dance company with reported assets exceeding $265 million, is embroiled in a controversy surrounding its employment of underage performers. Following an investigative report by The New York Times, the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) launched an inquiry into the company’s practices, prompting serious questions about its treatment of young dancers and musicians.
For years, Shen Yun, affiliated with the Falun Gong spiritual movement and operating from a sprawling campus in Orange County, New York, has relied heavily on young performers, many of whom are from families associated with Falun Gong and travel internationally to participate. These performers are offered full scholarships covering tuition, room, and board, but allegations are surfacing that this comes at a steep price.
The New York Times investigation revealed that Shen Yun allegedly violated New York State child labor laws by employing underage performers without the necessary permits. Legal experts point out that state law requires performance groups to secure specific certifications before using minors, guarantee proper working conditions, and establish trust accounts for a portion of the young performers’ earnings. Many former performers claim they were unaware of such protections and worked without proper compensation.
Former performers paint a picture of demanding schedules and grueling conditions. They describe long hours, often working from early morning until late at night, with significant responsibilities beyond performing. Many students, according to these accounts, bear the brunt of the behind-the-scenes work, including heavy lifting and stage setup. The accounts also reveal that some male performers were tasked with guarding tour buses overnight, a measure reportedly taken to protect against potential interference from Chinese government agents given Falun Gong’s banned status in China.
Shen Yun’s representatives, Ying Chen and Levi Browde, have refuted the allegations, asserting that the young performers are not employees but students gaining valuable educational experiences. They emphasize that some receive stipends and contend that “the vast majority of students will tell you this is their dream come true, and the parents rave about the positive changes in their children.” However, this statement fails to address the core concerns surrounding working conditions and potential exploitation. The company only recently, in late September, applied for and received the necessary state certification to employ minors, highlighting a prolonged period of apparent non-compliance. The approval mandates a 30-day advance notification to the Labor Department for any future use of minors in New York performances.
The stark contrast between Shen Yun’s considerable financial success and the relatively low compensation paid to its young performers has sparked further criticism. A comparison to the American Ballet Theatre, a significantly smaller organization financially, reveals that the latter pays apprentices a starting salary of $986 per week under its contract with the American Guild of Musical Artists. Employment lawyer Michael Minkoff voiced concerns about the potential use of loopholes in labor law to justify the company’s compensation structure. He suggested that Shen Yun might be classifying these young people as volunteers or apprentices, a tactic he deems potentially illegal.
The New York State Department of Labor’s investigation into Shen Yun’s practices is ongoing, adding to a growing concern about the treatment of young performers in the entertainment industry. While exceptions to minimum wage laws exist for students, apprentices, and volunteers, the adequacy of Shen Yun’s compensation, in light of its massive financial success and the demanding nature of its performances, remains a central point of contention. The investigation’s findings will likely shed further light on the prevalence and legality of these practices within the entertainment world and raise vital questions about protecting vulnerable young performers from potential exploitation.
