Malathi Iyengar

Choreographer, Educator, & Visual Artist

WORK EXPERIENCE
Artistic Director, Rangoli Foundation for Art & Culture & Rangoli Dance Company, Los Angeles, CA (1985 – Present)

  • Teach Bharatanatyam, Indian classical dance Technique, story telling sequences, gestures, rhythms, music, language, visual arts, customs, and culture

  • Choreograph, stage, and present students in annual recitals, solo dance debuts, and company performances

  • Teach advance choreography and prepare company performers for touring and local performances.

  • Work with dancers from diverse communities to engage in intercultural performances including improvisation and spoken word.

  • Present, stage, perform, and present full-length concerts and productions all over United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and India.

  • Design and prepare all publicity, graphic design work for company productions, and prepare all necessary teaching aids and materials.

 Faculty, Santa Monica College, Dance Department, Santa Monica, CA (2009 – 2013)

  • Taught Indian classical dance technique, customs, and culture

University of California, Los Angeles, Dance Department, Los Angeles, CA (1995 – 1996)

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant – Taught production design seminars and concert planning to Undergraduate Dance & World Arts & Cultures students

 Artist in Residence – Los Angeles City Unified School District, Los Angeles, CA (1989 – 1994)

  • Taught and directed a program showcasing music, dance, and visual arts of India to K – 12 students as a part of the LAUSD Intercultural Awareness Program.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

  • Lecture Demonstrations and Workshops featuring Dance and Visual Arts

  • Rangoli (Sand Mandala) Artist – Created floor designs for ‘Festival of India’ series all over California, Universities, Art Institutes, LA County Museum of Art, Norton Simon Museum, Bowers Museum, Pacific Asia Museum, and Fowler Museum

  • Created and designed logos, publicity material, interior design, stained glass artwork, murals, and visual art projects

EDUCATION

  • University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (1993 – 1996)
    Master of Fine Arts in Dance
    Emphasis: Choreography & Performance
    Mentors: Marion Scott, Angelia Leung, Judy Mitoma, Colin Quigley, & Elsie Dunin

  • Bharatanatyam Dance Training
    Master Teacher and Mentor – Late Guru Narmada, Bangalore, India

  • Internships & Workshops specializing in art of expression (Abhinaya) and conducting Dance recitals (Nattuvangam)
    Mentors: guru Narmada, guru Kalanidhi Narayanan, guru Bragha Bessell,  & guru Adyar Lakshman

  • University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (1978 – 1980)
    Professional Designation Certificate in Interior Design and Architectural Graphic Design

  • Bangalore University, India (1969 – 1972)
    Bachelor of Science
    Emphasis: Chemistry, Botany, & Zoology 

AWARDS 

  • 2013 COLA Fellow (City of Los Angeles mid-career exemplary artist fellowship for choreography)

  • 2010 Lester Horton Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement for World Dance – ‘Shivaya’

  • KCA (Karnataka Cultural Association, Los Angeles) Award & Recognition 2009

  • Hind Rattan Award 2009 (NRI Welfare Society of India, Delhi, India)

  • 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 – (Ramayana) 2000

  • Brody Fellowship for Performing Arts / Dance 1999

  • Alma Hawkins Award for Excellence in Choreography 1995

  • Watumull Award 1995

  • Glorya Kaufman Award 1994

  • John Lennon Performing Arts Award 1994

  • Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA – (Two Dimensional Design – Pen & Ink Drawings) – Artistic Merit Award 1980

BOOKS & PUBLICATONS

  • The constant need to produce something “new,” and it’s connect with the “old.” 2014
    Malathi Iyengar – Writer, speaker and panelist  ‘UTSAV’ – celebrating India’s Maestros of Music & Dance presented by SIVAM and supported by U.S.  – India Business Council, Utsav Festival, Key Bridge Marriott, Arlington, Virginia

  • Dance & Devotion
    A Hand Book on Bharatanatyam Dance, Written & Compiled by Malathi Iyengar
    Published by Rangoli Foundation 2004