Rangoli Dance Company
Rangoli Dance Company features ‘Bharatanatyam’, the vibrant dance form that has its origins in south India. Drawing from the myth and spirituality of the cultural heritage, artistic directors Malathi Iyengar & Lakshmi Iyengar create dance landscapes that dwell in both traditional and secular, and rhythm and stillness. The dances convey a sense of reverence & mystery and are offered in the spirit of universal celebration.
Dancers
Sheila Aula
Sheila, under the guidance of guru, Malathi Iyengar, embarked on her dance journey in 2003. She expanded her skills by studying Abhinaya from Bragha Bessell, Yoga from Ranjith Babu, Dance Theory from Neewin Hershall, and Folk Dances from Murali Mohan Kalvakalva. Since her Arangetram in 2007, she has performed in various Rangoli productions. Sheila, a Rangoli Artistic Merit Award recipient, serves as an Instructor and has managed backstage production activities.
With a BA in Global Health, Sheila has devoted the past decade to Graduate Medical Education. As Vice President of Education & Placement at Residents Medical, she guides International & Foreign Medical Graduates in their journeys to Residency and Fellowship in the United States.
Beyond her medical consulting role, Sheila passionately instructs group fitness, specializing in Zumba. She utilizes her platform for philanthropy, organizing charity events for the national breast cancer foundation and other nonprofits.
Vyshnavi Bala Aysola
Vyshnavi Bala Aysola is an art teacher, dancer, and school psychologist dedicated to empowering students and promoting mental health. Under the guidance of Guru Malathi Iyengar, Vyshnavi began her journey in Bharatnatyam in 2001. She has attended workshops offered by master artists from India, including Abhinaya with Bragha Bessell, yoga with Renjith Babu Choorakkad, and Indian folk dances with Murali Mohan Kalvakalva. Vyshnavi, a Rangoli Artistic Merit Award recipient, has performed in numerous productions and managed backstage production activities. As an art teacher at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center in LA, she enriches communities by teaching global art practices and managing events like the annual Dia de Los Muertos festival. In her role with LAUSD as a school psychologist, Vyshnavi advocates for students with behavioral, mental, and emotional disorders, collaborating with parents and teachers to create equitable learning environments.
Hema Iyer
Hema Iyer is a disciple of Guru Malathi Iyengar of the Rangoli Dance Company and Guru Mani of Kalasadan Institute, India. Since her Arangetram in 2004, she has performed as a senior Dancer of RDC in many of Iyengar’s choreographic works at premier venues in the USA and India.
Her seminal performances include major Rangoli productions like “Kodhai’s Dream”, “Patanjali”, and “Shivaya”.
She was part of an ensemble of Rangoli dancers nominated for the Lester Horton Award for their performance in “Ragamalika Varnam” in 2005.
Hema is also a recipient of the Elaine Weissman LA Treasures Award for Traditional artists, presented by the LA department of cultural affairs. Hema is proficient in Indian folk dances and Carnatic music.
She holds an advanced degree in Medical Lab Technology, is a committed special-education teacher at LVUSD, and is passionate about physical fitness.
Anya Prasad
Anya Prasad has been studying Bharatanatyam under the guidance of Guru Malathi Iyengar since 2006 and has performed in numerous company productions. She has enriched her dance training through workshops with master artists from India, including yoga sessions with Renjith Babu Choorakkad, abhinaya workshops with Bragha Bessell, and martial arts training with Parshwanath Upadhye.
Anya combines her passion for dance and philanthropy having organized and performed in a dance fundraiser aimed at creating scholarship funds for underprivileged children in India, enabling them to pursue engineering education opportunities.
Anya holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of Washington. Formerly with SpaceX and Boeing, she now applies her engineering expertise at Zipline, designing drones for instant logistics and delivery systems to revolutionize global healthcare and logistics. Passionate about innovation and equity, Anya also explores her entrepreneurial spirit through ventures in medical device development and commercialization.
Nishitha Viswanathan
Nishitha Viswanathan began her Bharatanatyam journey in 2002 under the guidance of Guru Malathi Iyengar. She has also attended workshops with master artists, including abhinaya with Guru Bragha Bessell, yoga with Renjith Babu Choorakkad, kalari martial arts with Parshwanath Upadhye, and Indian folk dances with Murali Mohan Kalvakalva. Nishitha has been teaching at Rangoli Dance Company since 2020. She is also studying nattuvangam under mridangam expert, Ramesh Babu (India).
Dedicated to effecting global change, Nishitha has a proven entrepreneurial track record. She founded both a Silicon Valley-based AI SaaS startup and a 501(c)(3) organization that has been sponsoring education for children in rural India since 2012. She is currently pursuing an M.S. in Emerging Technologies and Venture Capital at American University's School of International Service in Washington D.C.
Nishitha continues to perform and teach, aiming to deepen her knowledge of Indian classical art and advance her training to honor the rich education she has been so fortunate to receive.
Shivani Aysola
Shivani Lakshmi Aysola is a dancer and community activist working at the intersection of aesthetics and social justice. Shivani’s work has allowed her to advocate for refugees on behalf of the United Nations High Commission, teach digital filmmaking to underserved youth in South India, and implement sustainable design projects combatting homelessness in her hometown of Los Angeles.
Shivani began studying Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of guru Malathi Iyengar in 1997 and as a senior Rangoli company dancer has performed throughout California. She has also been fortunate to study abhinaya under guru Bragha Bessel, traditional folk dance under Murali Mohan Kalvakalva and yoga under Renjith Babu Choorakkad.
Shivani has a BA in Politics and a BA in Italian Literature from the University of California Santa Cruz along with advanced certification in Renaissance Art & Architecture from the Università degli Studi di Firenze.
Alia Bartlett
Alia started her Bharata Natyam training with Guru Malathi Iyengar in 1998. She found a deep resonance in the tradition, percussion and storytelling of this multilayered and multifaceted artform born and cultivated in the South Indian temples. She is honored to have performed several Rangoli performances before and after her Arangetram in 2002. Through Rangoli, she learned abhinaya from Bragha Bressell and folk from Murali Mohan Kalvakalva. After moving to the East Coast she briefly studied with Sridevi Thirumulai who also learned from Malathi’s Guru Narmada. She also learned and performed in New York with Sudharsana Srinivasan. After several years of exploring and performing various dance styles she is proud to be back home with Guru Malathi and Rangoli Dance Company.
Alia is a mother, yoga teacher, and a Registered Cardiology Nurse for over 15 years.
Nina Raji Krishnan
Nina Raji Krishnan began studying the art of Bharatanatyam in 2013. As a second generation American, dance has always served as a way for her to connect with the ancient traditions and artistry of her cultural background.
After completing her arangetram with Guru Malathi Iyengar in 2019, she has performed as a part of the Rangoli Dance Company in numerous productions including Offering: The Gift of Time, Ushas: Dawn of a New Day, ‘Chandrachooda’, adorned by the moon, and more. She is incredibly thankful for the opportunities Guru Malathi Aunty has presented her with and she hopes to continue to strengthen her relationship with Bharatanatyam as her lifelong journey as a dancer continues.
Currently, Nina is studying towards her BA in Psychology and Education at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. She has a passion for teaching and has experienced working as a reading aid in Glasgow and an english teacher for elementary and middle school students in Chennai.
Anjali Sheth
Anjali started her Bharatnatyam training with Guru Malathi Iyengar in 2004 and has been immersed in the visual and performing arts throughout her life. Since her arangetram in 2008, she has expanded her skills under the guidance of various experts, including learning abhinaya from Guru Bragha Bessell, yoga from Renjith Babu, theory from Neewin Hershal, and folk dancing from Murali Mohan Kalvakalva. Anjali has contributed backstage for many Rangoli Dance Company performances and performed in productions such as "Patanjali," "Shivaya," "Punyakoti," and "Ankle Bells and Painted Faces." After a hiatus, she is excited to return to dancing.
Based in Orange County, Anjali has dedicated the past 16 years to supporting students in their academic pursuits. She earned a BA in Earth Science from California State University, Fullerton, where she also participated in outreach programs that provided hands-on learning for elementary school students in underserved communities. She later transitioned to teaching at the middle school level, where she discovered her passion for counseling. Anjali obtained her master's in counseling from Chapman University and currently serves as a high school counselor at Sage Hill School.
Anshu Voruganti
Anshu Voruganti has been learning dance with Malathi Iyengar since 2011 and performed her solo dance debut in 2018. Under her guidance, she learned the basics of Bharatanatyam, how to train for an Arangetram, and how to become a performer. While also learning dance Anshu was also exposed to music, culture, customs, and visual arts as a whole. In her years with Rangoli, she has participated in many performances as well as productions such as “Sacred Geometry”, “Vahanas”, “Viriboni”, and “Offering”.
Each production inspires her way of thinking as both a person and a dancer. Productions that express uncommon ideas but still stick to the traditions and classical style have created the most impact on her dance journey. Anshu has learned She is very honored to be part of Rangoli Dance Company and cherishes every moment and performance.