About Gian Carlo Michelini
Gian Carlo Michelini, M.I. (Chinese: 秘克琳; pinyin: Mì Kèlín; 7 July 1935 – 4 April 2026) was an Italian-Taiwanese Roman Catholic priest. He moved to Taiwan in 1964, where he founded the Lanyang Dance Troupe. In 1996, Michelini helped establish the Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival. == Early life and arrival in Taiwan == A native of Bologna, Italy, Michelini was born on 7 July 1935. He first learned about the Chinese language and culture through his uncle, who had served as a missionary in China. Inspired by his uncle's experiences, Michelini became a priest. He settled in Taiwan in 1964, aged 29, and adopted the Chinese name Mi Ke-ling (秘克琳; Mì Kèlín). Sponsored by the Camillian Order, Michelini spent the first two years of his life in Taiwan studying Mandarin in Hsinchu. While in Hsinchu, Michelini watched Chinese films to learn the language, and also viewed performances of Chinese opera and glove puppetry. == Lanyang Dance Troupe == Soon after he moved to Luodong, Yilan, Michelini founded the Lanyang Dance Troupe in 1966, which expanded into the Lanyang Youth Catholic Center.
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