New Dance Series Conceived and Curated by Richard Colton

Produced by Churchtown Dairy

Taiji Dao, Dance, Calligraphy, & Sound

An Afternoon of Taiji, Qigong and Bagua dance celebrating the mystery of the Dao through a living mandala of movement, music, calligraphy, and sound. Taiji Dao is a journey from the silence of Hundun (混沌)—the primordial chaos before creation—into the unfolding of Wuji (無極), infinite stillness, where all potential sleeps. Movement becomes brushwork. Ink becomes breath. The stage becomes a place of transformation. Dance, music, calligraphy, and listening, are magically integrated into the nature and architecture of Churchtown Dairy.

Conceived for Churchtown Dairy and Performed by Lorelei Chang

Music Created and Performed by Joseph Getter

Narration Created and Performed by Nini Melvin

Costumes by Mai Nakanisha

* Suggested Donation at Door ($25 General Admission, $15 Senior and Under Eighteen)

Lorelei Chang is a pioneering modern dancer from China whose 40-year artistic journey bridges continents and cultures. She is renowned for integrating Qigong, dance, Chinese calligraphy, and healing arts into unique works of embodied expression. As the co-founder of DancEnlight—a cross-cultural dance company dedicated to artistic collaboration and spiritual enrichment—Lorelei has performed and taught internationally, from the U.S. and Japan to New Zealand and China. Her work has been featured at institutions such as Trinity College, the Kripalu Center, Omega Institute, and the National Qigong Association. A professional member of the National Qigong Association, Lorelei is a Shiatsu practitioner trained by Nini Melvin and a certified Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong instructor founded by Daisy Lee. Lorelei currently studies Hun Yuan Tai Chi and Bagua with a renowned martial artist and teacher, Zhang Qilong. She holds deep reverence for her many teachers—especially her mother, who introduced her and her twin sister to Qigong in their early teens. Lorelei’s teachers’ influence permeates every aspect of her work. Through her own presence and teachings, she honors their light, and hopes that anyone she encounters benefits from her guidance and passion.

Joseph Getter is a creative world musician, multi-instrumentalist, improvisor, composer, and teacher. He has decades of experience in call-and-response kirtan, Javanese gamelan of Indonesia,Carnatic classical music of southern India, experimental music, drumming, and Jazz. Joseph creates music for theater, dance, sound meditations, yoga, and the circus arts. Joseph accompanies dance classes at Wesleyan University, and at Educational Center for the Arts high school. He teaches music at Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, Independent Day School, and Oddfellows Playhouse. 

Nini Melvin created a nature-based healing art, HUMANATURE, blending Shiatsu, Chinese Medicine, Dance, Qigong and Five Element Meridian Movement. She wrote a book, HUMANATURE, made a divination deck and many shiatsu charts, all featuring Lorelei Chang. Nini has a Master’s Degree in Dance from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. She studied and taught shiatsu at the Ohashi Institute in NYC from 1981-1994. Since 1985, Nini has trained shiatsu and Qigong teachers and practitioners locally and internationally. She teaches classes online and in person. Nini and Lorelei have been collaborating and co-creating for a decade.