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The former English National Ballet dancer Yat-Sen Chang in a cap and sunglasses.
Yat-Sen Chang, 49, was accused during the trial of using his power and prestige to commit sexual offences against students at the English National Ballet and Young Dancers Academy between 2009 and 2016. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA
Yat-Sen Chang, 49, was accused during the trial of using his power and prestige to commit sexual offences against students at the English National Ballet and Young Dancers Academy between 2009 and 2016. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA

Ex-English National Ballet dancer convicted of sexually abusing young students

This article is more than 2 years old

Yat-Sen Chang is told he faces long jail term after jury finds him guilty of 13 sexual offences against four teenagers

A revered former English National Ballet (ENB) principal dancer faces a lengthy prison sentence after he was convicted of sexually abusing young dance students in his care.

Yat-Sen Chang, 49, a leading figure within the British and international ballet scene, used his “power and prestige” to commit sexual offences against young students at ENB, a trial heard.

A jury at Isleworth crown court in west London on Tuesday convicted him of 12 counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration.

Young girls whom he had been entrusted to teach had been in awe of his status and Chang had believed his fame would protect him from any complaints, according to prosecutors.

Judge Edward Connell told Chang, who lives in Kiel, Germany, that his offending “escalated in seriousness” and warned him he faced a “lengthy custodial sentence”.

The offences took place at the English National Ballet and Young Dancers Academy in London between December 2009 and March 2016, and relate to four female complainants, who were aged between 16 and 18 at the time.

They accused Chang of touching them inappropriately during massages at the schools.

Chang, who was convicted by the jury after 13 hours and one minute of deliberations, was remanded in custody to be sentenced at the same court on 18 June.

Opening the trial, Joel Smith, prosecuting, said Chang had been “famous and revered” by young dancers and students of ballet, and used his position to commit sexual offences against young students “whom he had been trusted to teach”.

“For his part, he trusted that his fame and his position would protect him from complaint or from consequences of his actions,” Smith told jurors.

“The story of this case is sadly often heard: it is a man with power and prestige using them to abuse younger women.”

Chang was on trial for 14 offences in total, and was found not guilty of one count of assault by penetration.

During his trial, the former dancer said he had “no idea” why the allegations had been made against him, and said he had not touched any of the complainants in an inappropriate or sexual way.

The Cuban-born dancer joined ENB in 1993 and was a principal dancer until 2011, according to a profile on the German Theatre Kiel website.

He performed in productions including The Nutcracker, Coppelia and Sleeping Beauty while at ENB. Trained at the Cuban National Ballet School, he later worked in France before being offered a contract in the UK, where he also ran summer schools.

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