Gian Carlo Michelini

Gian Carlo Michelini, M.I. (; 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. He settled in Taiwan in 1964, aged 29, and adopted the Chinese name Mi Ke-ling . While in Hsinchu, Michelini watched Chinese films to learn the language, and also viewed performances of Chinese opera and glove puppetry. which expanded into the Lanyang Youth Catholic Center. The Lanyang Dance Troupe made its international debut in 1974, with a three-month long tour throughout Michelini's home country of Italy. The troupe returned to Europe for another tour in 1975, followed by a South American tour from 1977 to 1978. Though the troupe began with an emphasis on Chinese court dances and folk dances, it later incorporated modern dance styles. In 1990, Michelini attended a conference convened by the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts.

Later work Michelini helped establish the Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival in 1996, In 2011, the name of Michelini and other foreign aid workers were commemorated by Liu Po-chun on a metal tree sculpture. The next year, Michelini was a recipient of the National Cultural Heritage Conservation Award. In 2013, Michelini donated photographs of the Lanyang Dance Troupe to the Yilan County Government. In 2015, the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon was conferred upon Michelini. 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. At his naturalization ceremony, Michelini stated, "This is the best birthday gift. I want to do many more things for Taiwan!" The Yilan County Government acknowledged Michelini's contributions to local arts and culture in 2025. Michelini's funeral Mass was held on 9 April 2026, at in Luodong, and he was buried at Guangxing Catholic Cemetery.