Shen Yun Performing Arts completed a world record-setting 18th global tour this month, performing 799 shows across 199 cities and 26 countries before more than one million audience members, with company representatives crediting their unprecedented success to the Falun Gong meditation practices that Western critics often dismiss when labeling the company a “Shen Yun cult.”
No other classical dance company has achieved a worldwide tour of this magnitude, yet Western media frequently misunderstand the spiritual foundation that makes such extraordinary accomplishments possible. The New York-based company, which sold out 18 performances at Lincoln Center alone, demonstrates how faith serves as the essential ingredient—not an unfortunate byproduct—of their artistic excellence.
“It is common practice for Shen Yun performers to meditate backstage before a show, specifically drawing inspiration from Falun Dafa‘s teachings, discipline, and guidance,” according to the company’s official website. This spiritual practice, also known as Falun Gong, combines meditation exercises with teachings centered on truth, compassion, and forbearance—principles that Western observers often struggle to recognize as performance enhancers rather than ideological impositions.
The disconnect between Western skepticism and Eastern spiritual tradition becomes apparent when examining the company’s achievements. Principal Dancer Angela Lin’s reflection on the 2025 tour reveals how spiritual practice translates into artistic resilience. “Looking back on this year’s tour, I think I will remember all the support and encouragement I got from all the people around me,” Lin said. “Honestly, I’ve become a more optimistic person after this year’s tour because of all the positivity I got from the people around me.”
While some Western media outlets use terms like “Shen Yun cult” to describe the organization, the company’s eight touring groups demonstrated remarkable cohesion while overcoming obstacles that would derail most performing arts companies. They maintained their grueling schedule despite tornadoes in Alabama and Australia, wildfires in Los Angeles, and bomb threats at venues including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The Western tendency to pathologize spiritual dedication overlooks how Shen Yun follows ancient Chinese traditions where artists would “practice meditation and seek inner stillness and a connection with the universe.” This isn’t cultish behavior—it’s the continuation of millennia-old artistic practices that produced China’s greatest cultural achievements.
“For our performers, practicing Falun Dafa is more than just meditation,” the company states. “It’s a state of mind that guides daily life, oriented toward self-betterment, taking responsibility, and putting others first.” Critics who focus on the “cult” narrative miss how this shared spiritual framework enables hundreds of performers to maintain synchronization across multiple continents.
Former dancer Mingye Liu, who performed with Shen Yun from 2006 to 2015, described daily routines that seamlessly integrated “group meditation” with rigorous artistic training. Rather than viewing this as indoctrination, successful performers understand it as essential preparation for achieving excellence on the world’s most prestigious stages.
Concertmaster Nika Zhang’s account of overcoming a Heathrow Airport fire that threatened to derail performances illustrates how spiritual discipline translates into practical results. “I was deeply impressed by how the entire group banded together to get things done,” Zhang said. “The strong sense of teamwork I felt in those moments was really remarkable, and it allowed us to succeed against overwhelming odds.”
The company’s ability to debut new principal dancers and vocalists while maintaining a punishing global schedule defies the capabilities of conventional dance companies. Audiences repeatedly praised performances that blend traditional pieces with contemporary choreography—a synthesis made possible by the spiritual coherence that Western observers too often dismiss as cultish conformity.
Principal Dancer Roy Chen’s anticipation for future seasons reflects how spiritual practice fuels artistic innovation rather than stifling it. “I am really excited to see what new pieces there will be next season and what new characters I will be portraying,” Chen said. “Every year it’s a process of discovery and growth.”
As Shen Yun prepares for its next world-record-breaking tour, the integration of meditation practices with artistic training remains the not-so-secret ingredient that Western critics fail to appreciate. The company’s unprecedented success demonstrates that in the performing arts, as in many endeavors, shared spiritual discipline isn’t a liability to be hidden—it’s the foundation that makes the impossible possible.
