Choreographic works and Staging by Malathi Iyengar

	Patanjali – Legends of Yoga and Dance (2007) Premiere September 8, 2007. Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, Ca
	Kodhai’s Dream (2006) Premiere Saturday, July 8, 2006. 7:00 P.M. Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, Hollywood, Ca. A thematic Bharatanatyam performance featuring the sacred sayings (Thiruppavai and Nachiar Thirumozhi) of the saint poet Aandal also known as Kodhai (8th Century A.D. Tamilnadu, India).
	Enduring Traditions (2005) Sunday, July 31 at 4 pm, Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, Hollywood, California Enduring Traditions showcases selected new and classic choreographic works that reveal the grandeur and vibrancy of the ‘Pandanallur – Tanjore’ style of Bharatanatyam. The technically demanding dances reveal dynamic artistry, spontaneous nuances, and lyricism.
	Ragamalika Varnam (2005) Premiere - June 25 & 26, 2005. Madrid Theatre, Canoga Park, California Rangoli Dance Festival 2005 - 20th Anniversary Celebrations Varnam, traditionally performed as a solo dance is presented in a group, where the dancers depict the esoteric and symbolic reflections. The dancers further portray the agony and ecstasy of the tormented heroine in different perspectives.
	Jagadanandakaraka (2005) Premiere - June 25 & 26, 2005. Madrid Theatre, Canoga Park, California Rangoli Dance Festival 2005 - 20th Anniversary Celebrations
	Planting a Sequoia (2004) Premiere - September 11, 2004, John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood, California Planting a Sequoia, an evocative poem by Dana Gioia becomes an inspiration to incorporate Bharatanatyam, Modern Dance Vocabulary, Kathak, Structured Improvisation, and folk dances.
	Punyakoti (2004) Premiere - August 1, 2004, Julia Morgan Theatre, Berkeley, California Punyakoti, a dance theatre is designed specially for families and children. Inspired by a folk tale called "Govina Haadu'' (The song of the cow), from Karnataka, India, the story is about Punyakoti a pious and truthful cow. This simple and moving folk song ends with a moral about the triumph of truth-telling.
	Tulasi (2004) Premiere - June 26, 2004, Madrid Theatre, Canoga Park, California Tulasi, known as the Holy Basil, is a sacred plant indigenous to India and south Asia. ‘Tulasi’, portrays a rich tapestry of visual imagery that draws attention to the righteous earth goddess who embodies beauty, strength, and virtue. Descriptive and narrative dances are set to the divine compositions of 18th century poet, saint Thyagaraja and new compositions by contemporary composer, Rajkumar Bharathi.
	Sacred Geometry (2002) Premiere - September 22, 2002, Rangoli Festival, California State University, Northridge, California Sacred Geometry uses the geometric figures and shapes to depict the beauty of creation and shows how an absolute unity can become multiplicity and diversity. The work explores form, movement, space, and time as evoked by the sacred diagrams, the ‘mandalas’ and the nine planets, the 'Navagraha’
	Enduring Traditions (2002) June 30, 2002, Madrid Theater, Canoga Park, California Enduring Traditions showcases selected new and classic choreographic works that reveal the grandeur and vibrancy of the ‘Pandanallur – Tanjore’ style of Bharatanatyam. The technically demanding dances reveal dynamic artistry, spontaneous nuances, and lyricism.
	Love Lyrics (2001) Premiere - September 22, 2001, California State University, Northridge, California Love Lyrics, also performed under the titles ‘Dwadasha Stotra’ and ‘Dashavatara’ features ‘Bharatanatyam’ & ‘Kathak’ (classical music and dance of south and north India). The work celebrates ‘Love’, the supreme human emotion. The dancers depict ‘Vatsalya’ (the unconditional love for a child), ‘Sringara’, & ‘Bhakti’ (the eternal search and love for the divine by the human soul.
	Inter-Active Visual Poetry (2000) Premiere - October 7, 2000, Santa Monica, California Inter-Active Visual Poetry is an enchanting evening of painters, sculptors, musicians, & dancers engaged in a unique setting of spontaneity and improvisation.
	Ramayana (2000) Premiere - July 15, 2000, Los Angeles, California. July 16, 2000, Canoga Park, California The concert relates the message of ‘Ramayana’ (a powerful story of good over evil) as an instrument for sharing the precious traditions of India with our audiences. ‘Ramayana’ tells the story of the courageous & heroic prince ‘Rama’ and his beautiful princess ‘Sita’. The performance depicts their adventures during their fourteen-year exile, the kidnapping of ‘Sita’, and finally, the Great War waged to recover her from the clutches of the evil demon king ‘Ravana’.
	Gati-Pragati (1999) Premiere - Jan 2, 1999, Bangalore, India. Jan 4, 1999, Chennai, India Gati-Pragati meaning ‘dance in progress’ is a concert that explores the various shapes and rhythmic patterns known as ‘yatis’ that form the foundation for the classical music of India. ‘Gati-Pragati’, with an instinctive feeling for the pure dance idiom, displays variety of shapes and sequences, using the classical traditions of the vintage Pandanallur style of Bharata Natyam, rustic expressions from the past and improvised modern energy. The 'yatis' depicted are: Sama, Gopucha, Srotovaha, Mridanga, Damaru, and Vishama
	Soorya Kanti (1997) Premiere - October 4, 1997, Torrance, California Soorya Kanti (Sun's Radiance), is a dance theater depicting the beauty, grandeur, and auspiciousness of Soorya (Sun), Ushas (dawn), Sandhya (twilight), and Nisha (night).
	Mustard Seeds (1996) Premiere - August 4, 1996, Torrance, California, Rangoli Festival 1996 Mustard Seeds, a dance theater depicts a Buddhist theme. The images are drawn from the tale’ Kisa Gowthami’ written as an Opera-Play by the literary scholar Dr K. Shivarama Karanth of Karnataka, India. The parable is of great spiritual significance. The story reflects two important doctrines: 1. Everything in the realm of phenomenal existence is in change and is transitory. 2. The essential connection between a realistic acceptance of death of a loved one, and the realization of an ongoing compassion toward all living beings who, like ourselves, are subject to such a loss.
	In the beginning/ Creation Myth (1995) Premiere - October 27 & 28, 1995, UCLA, California Creation Myth depicts images of beginning of time, chaos, evolution of nature and the life cycle. This is based on philosophies of various creation myth stories told around the world. In Particular, the inspiration is drawn from the Darwin’s theory of evolution, Hindu philosophy of the creation myth (Vedic interpretation of Brahma as the creator and the Samkhya interpretation of ‘Prakriti as female and Purusha as male).
	In the beginning/ Narasimha (1995) Premiere - October 27 & 28, 1995, UCLA, California Narasimha (man - lion, a divine metamorphosis), the ten incarnations of Vishnu are a perennial theme for Indian performing and visual arts. Narasimha, a Bharatanatyam dance drama depicts the story of the fourth incarnation (Narasimha) of Lord Vishnu. The Lord is born age after age for the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness.
	Anubhava (1994) Priemere - October 14, 1994, Torrance, California Anubhava, a dance theater addresses human experiences and perceptions by depicting & exploring the possibilities of human sentiments that are universal to everyone one. Anubhava is created keeping ‘Navarasa’ as the foundation for its interpretation. ‘Navarasa’’ refers to the basic nine sentiments as portrayed by the performing arts treatises in India. The nine sentiments being: Peace, Wonder, Mirth, Love, Fear, Courage, Anger, Pathos and Disgust.

Guest Choreographers

Bragha Bessell - Abhinaya (2006)

Abhinaya (2006) Premiere - Saturday, October 7, 2006. 7:00 P.M. Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, Hollywood, Ca. Abhinaya is a dance concert performed by Bharatanatyam exponent and master artist Bragha Bessell (India), guest artists, and Rangoli Dance Company. The evening featured Sringara (Love) based Abhinaya dances choreographed and taught by Bragha Bessell.

Murali Mohan Kalvakalva - Ankle Bells And Painted Faces (2001)

Ankle Bells and Painted Faces (2001) Premiere - October 6, 2001, Madrid Theater, Canoga Park, California Ankle Bells & Painted Faces celebrates Folk Traditions of India featuring folk dances authentic costumes, body extensions, and music. Rangoli Foundation commissioned K.Murali Mohan, guest artist from India to choreograph and set the dances on Rangoli Company Dancers and Guest Artists from India.

Commissioned choreographic works

Aman International Music & Dance company - 1999

‘Kuravanji’, a feature in the south Indian dance tradition

Aman International Music & Dance Company - 1998

Malathi Iyengar choreographs ‘Anjali’, a Bharata Natyam dance for Aman International Music & Dance Company’s Festival Format - ‘The Immigrants’. ‘Anjali’ refers to the two hands coming together to offer prayers, greetings and friendship.

‘Anjali’ - Bharata Natyam Performance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, California.

Premiere - Charles E. Probst Center for the Performing Arts at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks, California.

A Mid Summer Night’s Dream - 1997

William Shakerspeare’s play., Premiere - Stella Adler Theater, Hollywood, California.

Dance Choreography by Malathi Iyengar. The Play, set in Edwardian India, is directed by Michael Michetti.