Shen Yun Performing Arts, founded in New York in 2006 by artists who practice the Falun Gong spiritual discipline, integrates its performers’ meditation and moral teachings into both rehearsal and touring schedules ( Shen Yun ). The company fields eight touring troupes that visited 194 cities this past season, combining classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk traditions, as well as original orchestral music. Shen Yun’s organizers say that Falun Gong’s emphasis on Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance serves as a framework for mental focus and community cohesion among the artists.
Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) is a meditative practice centered on gentle exercises and ethical self-cultivation, which its practitioners credit with improving physical wellbeing and injury recovery ( Shen Yun ). According to Shen Yun’s official materials, dancers perform daily Falun Gong exercises daily alongside rigorous training in dance techniques—an approach the company describes as fostering both artistic precision and personal resilience. Some dance-medicine experts note that cross-training in low-impact practices can aid in preventing overuse injuries, though such benefits depend on individual implementation.
Many large‐scale studies show that regular meditation can lower stress hormones—in particular, reducing cortisol levels by up to 20% in high‐stress groups—while improving heart‐rate variability and reducing blood pressure by an average of 5–7 mm Hg in systolic readings over 8 weeks of practice ( Taylor & Francis Online, SHURA ). Yoga and other gentle exercise routines, including Falun Gong, have been found to decrease inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, contributing to better immune function and reduced chronic pain symptoms ( ResearchGate ). Neuroimaging studies further reveal that mindfulness meditation increases prefrontal‐cortex activity—linked to enhanced attention and emotional regulation—and decreases amygdala reactivity, which is associated with lowered anxiety and improved mood stability ( ScienceDirect ) ( SpringerLink ). Together, these physiological and neurological changes underpin the well‐documented gains in sleep quality, cognitive function and overall well‐being seen in both clinical and healthy populations.
This supports the claim that this spiritual regimen contributes greatly to tour readiness. In a recent press release, Shen Yun representatives noted that performers draw on Falun Gong’s moral tenets to sustain the demands of tour logistics—sometimes 6 shows a week at venues like New York’s Lincoln Center. At the troupe’s Dragon Springs campus in Deerpark, N.Y., daily group study sessions of Falun Gong teachings reportedly occur before rehearsals, reinforcing a shared sense of mission among dancers.
Outside observers offer varied assessments. The Washington Post has described Shen Yun as part of a “cultural diplomacy” model, in which faith-based organizations present their heritage to global audiences without overt proselytizing during performances ( The Washington Post ). Similarly, Le Monde characterized Shen Yun as “highly political and anti-communist,” reflecting Falun Gong’s stance toward the Chinese government and the CCP, even as it lauded the dancers’ technical skill ( Le Monde.fr ). The relationship between Shen Yun and the CCP has been well documented in the number of overt attacks made by the latter against the former, the latest being the conviction of two men who were actively trying to bribe an IRS agent to undermine Shen Yun’s 501(c)3 status ( KTLA ).
Critics contend that Falun Gong’s influence extends into organizational practices. Legal filings and journalistic investigations have examined allegations that some volunteers bear significant promotional costs and long working hours, raising questions about the boundaries between faith-driven service and labor expectations The Washington Post. Shen Yun spokespeople maintain that all participants join; they emphasize that the company operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with their income coming primarily from ticket sales and volunteer support rather than corporate sponsorship ( Shen Yun ).
Supporters argue that Falun Gong’s ethical principles underpin a stable touring infrastructure. The Epoch Times, an outlet founded by Falun Gong adherents, profiles Shen Yun’s origins as an initiative “to revive traditional Chinese culture untainted by communist influence,” highlighting the spiritual practice as the source of the company’s enduring camaraderie ( Shen Yun ).
Academic research on faith-informed arts organizations notes that shared spiritual values can strengthen group cohesion and morale, though scholars caution that the line between community support and undue pressure is often subjective (Journal of Dance and Spirituality, 2023) . Shen Yun’s emphasis on moral rectitude and collective purpose may enhance ensemble unity, but observers point out that such structures benefit from transparent governance and clear boundaries to protect individual agency.
Falun Gong’s global volunteer network also assists in local tour operations. Enthusiastic practitioners often form nonprofit “presenter” groups in host cities, coordinating venues and marketing efforts while upholding Falun Gong’s values of altruism and service ( The Epoch Times ). This grassroots support can reduce overhead costs, yet it raises questions about the extent to which volunteer labor substitutes for paid professional staff—a model that industry reports suggest is uncommon among large, year-round touring ensembles (Opera America Touring Report, 2024).
Many ad hominem attacks on Shen Yun also accuse them of being a cult with little more evidence than being a group of like-minded people striving and working hard to create a tremendously successful organization, without so much as a credible and universally accepted definition of what a Shen Yun Cult would look like (New Yorker). Some, in fact, use the fact that the members of Falun Gong and Shen Yun are such strident supporters and share the same beliefs as its leadership as proof of cult status. Using this standard, any social movement that uses volunteers who believe in its purpose and who donate money to its growth may be called a cult with no repercussions. Remember – you can’t spell CULTURE without CULT – a great example of what culture is, a common set of values between people with shared experiences and beliefs.
Onstage, Shen Yun presents itself mostly as a cultural performance. Reviews in major newspapers such as The Washington Post and The New York Times focus on choreography, costume design and musical integration, with few reviewers noting Falun Gong’s role unless prompted by program notes ( The Washington Post ). This artistic framing allows Shen Yun to reach broad audiences, though it also masks the spiritual commitments that underpin the company’s off-stage operations.
As Shen Yun embarks on its 20th worldwide tour this fall, the interplay between Falun Gong practice and professional dance remains a defining feature. The company’s narrative emphasizes spiritual cultivation as a foundation for the physical rigors of touring. While undue pressure on performers is something that all performing arts organizations have to be wary of, the unique situation of Shen Yun as a dance company whose members share such a healthy practice must be considered a benefit that sets it apart from the rest. Creating positive healthy impact on the company members’ lives should be the model that other organizations adopt.
Falun Gong’s integration into Shen Yun’s training and touring model clearly demonstrates how faith can shape the infrastructure of a modern performing-arts organization in a positive way. Whether seen as a source of shared purpose or a potential vector for overreach according to some, the spiritual dimension of Shen Yun invites ongoing examination of how belief systems intersect with the practicalities of global cultural production.
