Rangoli Dance Company (RDC)
The Rangoli Dance Company, is a highly recognized group of exquisite artists which was formed by Malathi Iyengar in 1992. Malathi’s visions have led her to continuously emphasize and embrace the participation of multi-disciplinary artists from diverse cultural backgrounds in her company productions. Her signature choreography involves movement created through layering, juxtaposing, and exploring spatial planes. In addition to Malathi’s visionary concepts, originality, and scholarship, her long term collaboration with music composer Rajkumar Bharati (Chennai, India) has resulted in showcasing breathtaking possibilities through movement, music, text, and improvisation.Consisting of high caliber core and guest artists, the company has given invigorating performances throughout the United States, Canada, and India. The company has been successful in being an important liaison between artists, communities, and institutions all over the world. Furthermore, the company maintains its extensive commitment towards education and outreach programs which have promoted a richer understanding of classical dance and the heritage of India.
Company Honors
Lakshmi Iyengar & Shaheen Sheik received a Lester Horton Dance Award Nomination for outstanding achievement in performance in Jatiswaram (Kodhai's Dream) 2006.
Lakshmi Iyengar, Hema Iyer, Mary Khetani, & Shaheen Sheik received a Lester Horton Dance Award Nomination for outstanding achievement in a performance of Ragamalika Varnam 2005.
Shaheen Sheik & Hema Iyer, Rangoli Dance Company members are the recipients of The Elaine Weissman L.A. Treasures Award for Traditional Artists - 2005. As a part of the proposed project, both will work with Malathi Iyengar to study the art of Nattuvangam and present a performance project in November 2005. This project is supported, in part, by the California Traditional Music Society and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
On September 25, 2005, Cindy Montanez, Assembly Member, 39th District of the California State Assembly presented Malathi Iyengar & Rangoli Dance Company a Certificate of Recognition in honor of their participation in the Madrid Theatre's 'A festival within a Festival', one of the featured events of the 2005 World Festival of Sacred Music - Los Angeles, California.
Malathi Iyengar and Lakshmi Iyengar have been selected as Master Teacher and Apprentice by the Alliance for California Traditional Artists (ACTA) in the south Indian Bharatanatyam dance tradition - July 2004. ACTA awarded 14 teams of master folk and traditional artists and dedicated apprentices in artistic genres representing the richness of California’s cultural landscape. These contracts funded by The National Endowment for the Arts and the James Irvine Foundation support a period of intensive learning for individuals who have shown a commitment to, and talent for, a specific artistic tradition.
Core Company
Rajkumar Bharati (Chennai, India) - Company Music Composer since 1992
Lakshmi Iyengar / Co-Artistic Director, Lead Dancer & Production Designer
Malathi Iyengar / Company Artistic Director since 1985
Suresh Iyengar / Company Visual Artist since 1985
Company Artists
Dimple Bhasin / Company Dance since 2004
Ronald Brown / Company Dancer since 1995
Ronald Burton / Company Dancer since 1995
Sudarshan Chalan / Company Musician since 1989
Sandra Chatterjee / Company Dancer since 2001
Hema Iyer / Company Dancer since 2004
Mary Khetani / Company Dance since 2004
Shyamala Moorty / Company Dancer since 1994
Alia Rice / Company Dancer since 2001
Emma Scioli / Company Dancer since 1997
Shaheen Sheik / Company Dancer since 1997
Soumya Sundaresh / Company Dancer since 1998
