In recent years, Falun Gong spares no efforts to advocate "Divine Performance" (Shen Yun) in many countries and regions under the banner of "showcasing traditional Chinese culture". Boasting on its website, Falun Gong claims: "The Shen Yun Art Troupe is a world-class performance group with top-notch artists and performers". Then, what’s the truth about the Shen Yun Art Troupe under Falun Gong?
Generally speaking, there are certain qualification criteria for an art group to be called "a world-class art ensemble". Below are some of them.
A. Time-honored. The famous Staatskapelle Dresden of Germany was founded in 1548, and the Vienna Philharmonic in 1842.
B. Having prominent conductors or artists as resident members. For example, Arturo Toscanini has been the music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1928 to 1936, who was replaced in 1958 by the world-renowned conductor Leonard Bernstein. In 1978, the world famous Indian conductor Zubin Mehta took the job as the music director of the Orchestra. The same goes to London Symphony Orchestra, which was led by the leading clarinettist Jack Brymer.
C. Highly professional in specific fields. For example, there are symphony orchestras like the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, concert bands like the Military Bands of the French Republican Guard and the Military Band of People's Liberation Army of China, music and dance troupes like the New York City Ballet, the China Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble, the Irish Tap Dancing Troupe, and circuses like the Moscow State Circus.
The Shen Yun Art Troupe was established in 2006 and started its world tour from 2007. In 2009, it was divided into three sub-groups, namely, the New York Shen Yun Art Troupe, the Shen Yun Tour Art Troupe and the International Shen Yun Art Troupe. Its performers are mainly teenagers and young people who are mostly Chinese origin, other than so-called world class conductors and artists. Its performances basically involve dancing, singing, acrobatics, instrument playing and musical dramas. Although the contents are abundant and dazzling, such world-famous grand finales as the River Dance are never seen.
A careful examination of the brief introductions to the performers posted at the Falun Gong website revealed the composition of members of the Shen Yun Art Troupe.
1. People obsessed with Falun Gong. These include pious believers such as the leader of the Troupe Li Weina, and deputy leader Guan Guimin, singers like Yang Jiansheng and Bai Xue, Chen Shutang and his wife Chen Ningfang, who are the composers of the music band. Li Weina and Guan Guimin claimed for many times that most of the members of the group were practicing Falun Gong.
2. Performers enlisted through a series of contests. Since 2007, Falun Gong has held a series of so-called contests, such as world Chinese dancing, piano contest, violin, vocal music contests, kung fu contest, etc. By such tricks Falun Gong has enlisted lots of professionals as a tool in the service of its sinister intentions. Members enlisted in this way include Li Bojian and Liu Xinyi who won prizes in "Global Contest in Chinese Dancing", Hong Ming who won a prize in "Global Vocal Music Contest for Chinese", etc.
3. Employees enlisted under the banner of student recruitment. These employees are mostly teenagers and young people who are mainly dancers. In August 2006, Falun Gong founded the "New York Feitian Dancing School", which was upgraded to be called "Flying Arts Academy" in March 2008. After embellished by the Falun Gong headquarters, the school has issued 11 recruitment notices since August 9, 2006, enrolling performers for the Shen Yun Gala. The performers enrolled include dancers like Wang Luyi, Zhou Xiao, Dong Meiniang, Su Xianzhi and Liang Shihua, etc. As a special way of encouraging and embellishing the recruits, they were also awarded winners of other contests organized by Falun Gong. For example, Su Xianzhi got the silver prize of the female youth group in "The 2nd Global Contest in Chinese Dancing".
4. Staff members employed by Falun Gong. Such as technical production personnel who are working for the troupe.
Either in the practice of martial arts or arts performing, the Chinese people stresses the virtues in their professions. People love Luciano Pavarotti not only because that he’s a shining star, but also because he is an upright and caring man. In China there are a lot of artists who are loved and respected by the common people. They not only have striven to overcome difficulties and achieved great success in the pursuit of artistic perfection, but also shown little interest in pursuit of fame and wealth, dedicated to serving the people and have conscientiously forged noble virtues. These include the famous Henan Opera master Chang Xiangyu, and the well-known performing artist and singer Guo Lanying. In a way, artists can only reach the peak when they are perfect in both talents and virtues. On the contrary, if an artist is involved in cults, he is not to make a distinguished figure despite his moving songs and beautiful dances, nor will he be admired and revered by the public.
Through the analysis we can see that the Shen Yun Art Troupe is neither a "world-class art group", nor does it recruit "world-class artists". It’s nothing but a performing troupe under the roof of the cult Falun Gong.
