Malathi Iyengar

Malathi Iyengar, originally from Bangalore, India is a Los Angeles based choreographer, dancer, writer, and visual artist. Malathi holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Choreography and Performance from University of California, Los Angeles. Malathi studied Bharatanatyam (classical dance of India) from guru Narmada of Bangalore and choreography and improvisation under the mentorship of Marion Scott.

Iyengar is a recipient of several prestigious awards for her choreographic works and is recognized as a Master Artist of Bharatanatyam dance by the Alliance for California Traditional Artists. Some of her other distinctions include Rainbow Award, California Culture-place Award, Hindu Temple Asthana Vidushi Award, Durfee Foundation Award, Brody Fellowship for Performing Arts, Alma Hawkins Award for Excellence in Choreography, John Lennon Performing Arts Award, Glorya Kaufman Award, J.. Watumull Award, and the National Endowment of the Arts. Iyengar is the author of 'Dance & Devotion' published by Rangoli Foundation.

Iyengar's creations reflect a wide range of artistic expressions ranging from traditional works to inter-cultural collaborations with artists of diverse cultures. Her critically acclaimed works include 'Patanjali', 'Kodhai's Dream', 'Punyakoti', 'Tulasi', 'Sacred Geometry', 'Love Lyrics', 'Ramayana', 'Mustard Seeds', & 'Creation Myth'. Malathi Iyengar & Rangoli Dance Company has performed extensively in USA, Canada, & India.

Drawing from her extensive experience as an artist, Iyengar regularly teaches Bharatanatyam, production and presentation seminars, and intercultural dance theater. In addition to being a prolific teacher and arts presenter, Iyengar has served as a panelist for several grant and award committees. Iyengar is known for speaking from her unique experiences with passion & conviction about leadership in arts as a part of her speaking engagement series, 'Dreams & Visions'. Iyengar has been the technical advisor for selected episodes of the popular Television Drama series 'Heroes'.

Iyengar, with a strong visual arts background has specialized in creating the 'Sand Mandalas' and 'Rangoli Art'. She has exhibited and created exquisite floor designs for various museums and institutions in India and United States. Some of her works have been commissioned by The Fullerton Museum's 'Diagram of the Cosmos', Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pacific Asia Museum, Loyola Marymount University, and the southern California Festival of India Series. She recently served as an advisor for the National Geographic Kids Magazine on the visual art of India 'Rangoli'.
Malathi Iyengar is the artistic director of the Rangoli Foundation for Art & Culture, a non-profit organization, which was founded in 1985. The Rangoli Foundation, recognized for its professional presentations, has not only showcased artists from around the world, but also has been instrumental in creating several opportunities for artists from India to share their talents in United States.

Education
  • University of California, Los Angeles. Master of Fine Arts in Dance - March 1996
    Emphasis: Choreography & Performance.
  • University of California, Los Angeles. Professional Designation Certificate, 3 year program- December 1980
    Emphasis: Art & Design.
  • Bangalore University, India. 1972 Bachelor of Science
    Emphasis: Chemistry, Botany & Zoology.
Awards
  • Rainbow Award (Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival) 2007
  • California Cultureplace Artist (ACTA) 2006
  • Asthana Vidushi - Recognition bestowed by Hindu Temple of southern California - July 2005
  • Alliance for California Traditional Artists - Master Artist 2004
  • Durfee Foundation Award 2000
  • Brody Fellowship for Performing Arts / Dance 1999
  • Alma Hawkins Award for Excellence in Choreography 1995
  • J. Watumull Award 1995
  • Glorya Kaufman Award 1994
  • John Lennon Performing Arts Award 1994
  • Pacific Design Center - Artistic Merit Award 1980
Publications Dance & Devotion: A Hand Book on Bharatanatyam dance and Traditional Prayers for students pursuing Indian Classical Dance. August 2004










Choreography & Staging

Patanjali (2007)
Kodhai's Dream (2006)
Enduring Traditions (2005)
Jagadanandakaraka (2005)
Planting a Sequoia (2004)
Punyakoti (2004)
Tulasi (2004)
Sacred Geometry (2002)
Enduring Traditions (2002)
Love Lyrics (2001)
Legends of Heroism (2001)
Inter-Active Visual Poetry (2000)
Ramayana (2000)
Gati-Pragati (1999)
Dancing Divinities (1999)
Soorya Kanti (1997)
Aananda Narthana (1997)
Mustard Seeds (1996)
Narasimha (In the beginning 1995)
Creation Myth (In the beginning 1995)
Anubhava (Traditions & Innovations 1994)

Collaboration with guru Narmada
Ragamalika Varnam (2005)
Margam (1998)
Bharatanatyam (Rangoli Dance Festival 1996)
Parthasarathi (Traditions & Innovations 1994)
Skanda (1993)
Sri Raghavendra (1992)

Professional Experience
  • Lecture Demonstration & Performance, Department of World Arts & Cultures, UCLA, February 2008
      Arranged by Professor Emma Lew Thomas
  • Art of Rangoli, Lecture Demonstration, Otis College of Art & Design, Los Angeles November 2007
  • Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards, Panel Member 2007 - 2008
  • National Geographic Kids Magazine, Art of Rangoli, Consultant 2007
  • Mayfield Senior High School, Pasadena, Ca. November 2006
      Bharatanatyam Workshop for Annual Arts Day
  • Karthik Fine Arts, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai, India. December 2006
      • Lecture & Demonstration: Thematic presentation in a solo and a group performance.
      Arranged by Radhika Shurajit
  • 'Heroes', Television Drama Series, Technical Advisor 2006
  • University of California, Los Angeles. November 2006
      • Lecture Demonstration and Performance for World Arts & Culture Department.
      Arranged by Professor Emma Lew Thomas.
  • University of Redlands, Redlands, California, March 2006
      • Lecture Demonstration & Performance for the Asian Studies Developpment Program
  • California State University, Long Beach / South Asia Committee, April 2005
      • Lecture Demonstration and Performance: Bharatanatyam Dance
  • California State University, Los Angeles / Department of Theatre Arts & Dance. November 2004
    • Lecture and Demonstration: Rhythm and Expression in Bharatanatyam Dance.
  • Mayfield Senior High School, Pasadena, California - February - March, 2004
    • Bharatanatyam Residency and performance
  • Dakshinachitra, Chennai, India - December 2003
    • ‘Dreams & Visions’, Lecture, Discussion & Performance
  • Los Angeles Trade & Technology College, Los Angeles - February 2003
    • Lecture Demonstration on ‘Music for Dance’, Rhythms and Cross Rhythms
  • Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Jnana Bharati Campus, Bangalore, India
    • 'Dreams & Visions', Lecture and Discussion for MBA program - January 2003
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Theater, Film, & Television
    • Lecture-Demonstration: 'Navarasa' in Indian Classical Dance - November 2002
  • Loyola Marymount University, Marymount Institute and Department of Art and Art History, Los Angeles, CA - November 2002
    • 'Rangoli Art and Sand Mandala', Creation, Lecture and Workshop.
  • California Polytechnic University, Pomona, Institute of New Dance & Cultures
    • Lecturer - Fall 1999
  • University of California, Los Angeles. Department of Dance & World Arts & Cultures
    • Graduate Teaching Associate - 1994 - 96
    • Classes: Bharata Natyam dance & Production Design
  • Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography, Bangalore, India
    • Lecture - Demonstration & Workshop on Contemporary Intercultural Choreography,
    • Improvisation and Production Design - 1995
  • Rangoli Foundation for Art & Culture, Los Angeles, California.
    • Performing Arts & Visual Arts. Performances, Lecture - Demonstrations, & Workshops 1985 - Current
  • Performing Tree & Los Angeles Unified School District 1989 - 1995
    • Independent Contractor for the Artist in Residence program.
  • Architectural Designer & Graphic Artist 1980 - Current
  • ‘Rangoli’, Floor Designs & ‘Mandala’ Creations 1963 - Current
Professional Activities
  • Co Presented the movie 'Dil To Pagal Hai' as a part of Indian Film Festival, Los Angeles, April 2008.
  • Master Class for Santa Monica College Dance Department, April 2008
  • Co Hosted Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival, March 2008
  • Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards, Panel Member 2007
  • Los Angeles County Arts Commission Multi Disciplinary Arts Panelist, 2005 - 2006
  • Los Angeles City Cultural Affairs Dept, Dance Panelist, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
  • Los Angeles City Cultural Affairs Dept, Committee Member, Festival of Festivals, 2000
  • Los Angeles City Cultural Affairs Dept, Coordinator, Millennium Festivals 1999-2000
  • Dance Resource Center, Los Angeles, Board Member, 1999
  • Western Alliance of Arts Administrators Foundation, Awards Committee. 1997
  • Dance Summit, University of California, Los Angeles. 1995
  • Dance Ethnology Forum, University of California, Los Angeles. 1994 & 1995
  • Gypsy Lore Society Conference. University of California, Los Angeles. 1994
    (Paper presentation and Kuravanji dance: South Indian Gypsy dance performance)
  • New Directions in Indian Dance Conference, Kalanidhi Fine Arts, Toronto. 1993
Affiliations
  • Dance Resource Center
  • Narthaki, gateway to world of Indian dance
  • 'attendance' the dance annual, India
  • Gunagrahi, music and dance magazine, Bangalore, India
  • Sruti Foundation, Chennai, India
  • Indian and World Arts & Crafts, Delhi, India
  • Dance Critics Association, USA.