Falun Gong, Spiritual practice compound in Deerpark, United States.
The Dragon Springs compound covers 400 acres of wooded terrain featuring temples styled after the Tang Dynasty and educational buildings in upstate New York. The grounds include several structures with curved roofs and timber frames, surrounded by dense forest and landscaped gardens.
Li Hongzhi founded the compound in 2000 as a refuge for practitioners following the persecution of Falun Gong members by Chinese authorities starting in 1999. Since then, the site has served as a retreat and training center far from the movement's original homeland.
Within the compound, the Fei Tian Academy of Arts and Fei Tian College teach students in classical Chinese dance and traditional performing arts. The training follows methods rooted in historical lineages and choreographic principles from different periods of Chinese civilization.
The private facility operates under strict access control with security checkpoints and houses roughly 100 permanent residents within its secured grounds. Visitors without prior authorization cannot enter the interior spaces or most outdoor areas of the site.
The compound houses the main rehearsal location for the Shen Yun performing arts company, which organizes its international tours from this secluded base. The dance troupe spends months at this site preparing its annual programs before performing worldwide.
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