Gian Carlo Michelini

A native of Bologna, Italy, Michelini was born on 7 July 1935.[1][2] He first learned about the Chinese language and culture through his uncle, who had served as a missionary in China.[3] Inspired by his uncle's experiences, Michelini became a priest.[3] He settled in Taiwan in 1964, aged 29,[4] and adopted the Chinese name Mi Ke-ling (秘克琳; Mì Kèlín).[4][5] Sponsored by the Camillian Order, Michelini spent the first two years of his life in Taiwan studying Mandarin in Hsinchu.[3][6] While in Hsinchu, Michelini watched Chinese films to learn the language, and also viewed performances of Chinese opera and glove puppetry.[6]

Soon after he moved to Luodong, Yilan, Michelini founded the Lanyang Dance Troupe in 1966,[7][8] which expanded into the Lanyang Youth Catholic Center.[3] Both organizations were named for the Lanyang Plain.[7] Choreographer Lin Mei-hong was a member of the Lanyang Dance Troupe's inaugural class and formally joined the troupe around the age of ten.[3][9] The Lanyang Dance Troupe made its international debut in 1974, with a three-month long tour throughout Michelini's home country of Italy.[6] Only 32 people saw the troupe's first Italian performance, because the show had not been adequately advertised.[10] Despite the tour's inauspicious start, the troupe's reputation grew, and a performance for Pope Paul VI was booked.[10] The Lanyang Dance Troupe then became the first performing arts company to perform for a pope in the Vatican.[10] The troupe returned to Europe for another tour in 1975, followed by a South American tour from 1977 to 1978.[6] As the troupe prepared for their return to Taiwan from South America, they were invited to stage the first Chinese cultural performance at the Disneyland Resort.[6] The troupe subsequently toured in Central America.[6] In the early 1980s, the Lanyang Dance Troupe worked with Henry Yu, a student of Tsai Jui-yueh's, on the Graham technique.[6] In 1986, the Lanyang Dance Troupe began working with choreographers from Hong Kong.[3] Lin Mei-hong returned to the troupe as choreographer in 1990,[3] and has also served as director.[11] Though the troupe began with an emphasis on Chinese court dances and folk dances, it later incorporated modern dance styles.[6][12] In 1990, Michelini attended a conference convened by the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts.[1] Taiwan joined the international non-governmental organization in 1994,[1][13] with Michelini's dance troupe serving as point of contact.[13]

Michelini helped establish the Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival in 1996,[1][4][10] and served as general secretary of the Folklore Festival Association of the ROC.[14][15] In 2011, the name of Michelini and other foreign aid workers were commemorated by Liu Po-chun on a metal tree sculpture.[16][17] The art piece was donated to the Council for Cultural Affairs by the Foundation of Taiwan Organizations of Philanthropic Education.[16][17] The next year, Michelini was a recipient of the National Cultural Heritage Conservation Award.[18] In 2013, Michelini donated photographs of the Lanyang Dance Troupe to the Yilan County Government.[19] In 2015, the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon was conferred upon Michelini.[20] On 6 July 2017, Michelini was naturalized as a citizen of the Republic of China, and became the first person to hold naturalized dual citizenship under the revised Nationality Law provision for special contributions to art and culture.[21] At his naturalization ceremony, Michelini stated, "This is the best birthday gift. I want to do many more things for Taiwan!"[5]