Milestones / Highlights

  • Lakshmi Iyengar & Shaheen Sheik received a Lester Horton Dance Award Nomination for outstanding achievement in performance in Jatiswaram (Kodhai's Dream) 2006
  • Malathi Iyengar receives the 'Rainbow Award' from the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival - 2007
  • Malathi Iyengar chosen as an exemplary traditional artist for California Cultureplace by Association of California Traditional Artists (ACTA 2006)
  • Lakshmi Iyengar, Hema Iyer, Mary Khetani, & Shaheen Sheik received a nomination for Lester Horton Dance Award for outstanding achievement in a performance of Ragamalika Varnam 2005.
  • Lakshmi Iyengar & Shaheen Sheik had the rare opportunity to perform in Royce Hall, UCLA on October 5, 2005 in honor of Yoga Master B. K. S. Iyengar's visit to Los Angeles. Royce Hall, built in 1929 is one of the greatest Amercian concert halls. Its unique Romanesque architecture is modeled after Milan's San Ambrogio Church, constructed in the tenth and eleventh centuries.
  • 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 April 2006. 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, Ca.
  • Malathi Iyengar was conferred the recognition and title 'Asthana Vidushi' by the HIndu Temple Society of southern California on July 23, 2005 for her contributions to art & culture
  • In honor of Rangoli Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations, Los Angeles City third district councilman Dennis Zine presented Rangoli Foundation a Certificate of Recognition for sharing and serving the Valley and the greater Los Angeles with rich cultural traditions. Dennis Zine attended the festival on June 25, 2005 at the Madrid Theatre, Canoga Park, Ca.
  • Rangoli Foundation presented Rangoli Dance Festival 2005 - 20th Anniversary Celebrations on June 25th & 26th at the Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park, California.
  • Malathi Iyengar’s book ’Dance & Devotion’ was released by Sri V. P. Dhananjayan (Internationally renowned choreographer & dancer) in Chennai, India on December 22, 2004 and by Sri I. M. Vittal Murthy (Secretary to Govt. Ecology and Environment) in Bangalore, India on December 27, 2004. Guru Narmada received the first copy.
  • Malathi Iyengar & Rangoli Dance Company performed ‘Punyakoti’ in Bangalore on December 26, 2004 in aid of ‘Dream A Dream’ an organization that serves under privileged children in India. The event was presented by Nadam Academy.
  • Rangoli Foundation publishes ‘Dance & Devotion’ written and compiled by Malathi Iyengar and illustrated by Suresh Iyengar - August 2004. The book was released on August 13, 2004 as a part of the Pacific Asia Museum‘s prestigious ‘Authors on Asia’ programs by Scholar, Colin Quigley, Ph.D., World Arts and Cultures, University of California, Los Angeles.
  • Malathi Iyengar & Lakshmi Iyengar have been chosen as Master Artist & Apprentice by the Alliance for California Traditional Artists (ACTA / 2004)
  • Malathi Iyengar & Rangoli Dance Company's performance on September 21 & 22, 2002 at the California State University, Northridge Performing Arts Center is recognized as one of the major events of the World Festival of Sacred Music 2002 .
  • Malathi Iyengar is the recipient of the "Brody Arts Fellowship" for Performing Arts 1999 - 2000.
  • Malathi Iyengar & Rangoli Dance Co performs for the Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a KCET televised performance. December 24, 1999.
  • Malathi Iyengar & Rangoli Dance Co performs for the World Festival of Sacred Music 1999 at the Fullerton Museum Center on Oct 17, 99. (Global Millennium Project initiated by HH Dalai Lama)
  • Malathi Iyengar & Rangoli Company performed a benefit dance concert for ASHA-LA (an action group for basic education in India) on October 4, 1997
  • Malathi Iyengar debuted as a Nattuvanar by presenting and conducting the first "Arangetram"(solo dance debut) of her disciple, Shaheen Sheik on August 15, 1997 (India celebrated its fifty years of independence on this day), a presentation of Rangoli Foundation.
  • Malathi Iyengar is the first recipient of the prestigious "Alma Hawkins Award for Excellence in Choreography 1995."
  • Malathi Iyengar is the first traditional Indian dancer to be admitted to do Master of Fine Arts in Choreography at UCLA. 1993
  • Rangoli Foundation presented "Arangetram" by eleven year old Lakshmi Iyengar, conducted by Guru Narmada on September 3, 1993.
  • Rangoli Foundation presented "Arangetram" by Malathi Iyengar, conducted by Guru Narmada on October 9, 1992.
  • Malathi Iyengar's creative vision has enabled Rangoli Foundation to provide creative opportunities to several artists from India, Canada & U.S from both Indian and non Indian communities.
Following artists debuted in U.S. as sponsored artists of Rangoli Foundation for the company performances:
  • Nandakumar Unnikrishnan (2007)
  • Bragha Bessell (2006)
  • S. R. Veeraraghavan (first visit to USA 2005)
  • A.P. Sarvotham (first visit to USA 2004, 2005)
  • Sudarsan Sibi (first visit to USA 2004)
  • Latha Ramchand (first visit to USA, 2002)
  • Renjith Babu (first visit to USA, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007)
  • Mysore A. Chandan Kumar (first visit to US 2001)
  • Janardhan Rao (first trip to U.S. 2000)
  • K. S. Vasudha (first trip to U.S. 1999)
  • G.Gurumurthy - (first trip to U.S. 1999, 2001, 2002, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007)
  • K. Murali Mohan - (first trip to U.S. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007)
  • S. V. Balakrishna - ( first trip to U.S. 1997 / 99)
  • Hari Krishnan - (first trip to U.S. 1997)
  • Seshadri Ramchandra - (first trip to U.S. 1996)
  • Kiran Subramanyam - (first trip to U.S. 1993 / 94)
  • Rajkumar Bharati - (first trip to U.S. 1992)
Following artists from Canada & India (who had earlier performed in U.S for other institutions) have also been sponsored by Rangoli Foundation:
  • Vivek Venugopalakrishna (2007)
  • Balasubramanyam Sharma (2002, 2004)
  • K. Murali Mohan (2003)
  • H.S. Venugopal (2002, 2002)
  • Nee-Win Hershall (2001, 2002, 2005, 2007)
  • Mysore N. Srinath (2000, 2001)
  • T.B. Unnikrishnan (2000, 2001)
  • P. Praveen Kumar - (1999, 2000, 2004)
  • Sathyanarayana Raju (1997)
  • G. Vasudev (1996)
  • H. K. Narayana (1993)
  • Guru Narmada (visiting mentor to Rangoli Foundation since 1991)