A former English National Ballet dancer has been found guilty of sexually assaulting his students.
Yat-Sen Chang attacked girls and women he taught at the English National Ballet and Young Dancers Academy in London between December 2009 and March 2016.
Charges Against Yat-Sen Chang
The 49-year-old man was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault and one count of penetration. He have been cleared of one crime as well.
He will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on June 18.
Judge Edward Connell told Chang that his case was “very serious” and warned him that he would face “a long prison sentence”.
Harassment Claims
The charges relate to four women, aged between 16 and 18 at the time, who accused the dancer of improperly touching them during a school massage.
Assistant judges were told that Chang, now living in the German city of Kiel, had “used his position” as a “famous and respected” ballet dancer to harass his students.
“For his part, he trusted that his fame and his position would protect him from complaint, or from consequences of his actions,” prosecutor Joel Smith said.
Chang denied all the allegations, saying he “did not know” why they were made.
Career As A Ballet Dancer
According to a profile on the Theater Kiel website, Chang joined English National Ballet in 1993 and became a leading dancer until 2011. He starred in plays that included The Nutcracker, Coppelia and Sleeping Beauty.
Met police said two of his victims contacted the force in 2016 about an attack that took place during private ballet classes at his home, dance school or ballet school.
Two other plaintiffs later came forward with other allegations.
Dangerous And Predatory
Speaking after the court hearing, Det Con Helen Larson described the ballet dancer as “dangerous and predatory”.
“He abused his position of trust and power to prey on them when they were most vulnerable,” she added.
Chang was remanded in custody pending sentencing.
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