Malathi Iyengar (right) and her apprentice and daughter, Lakshmi Iyengar.
Photos courtesy of Malathi Iyengar
Bharata Natyam is one of the six major classical dance forms of India, originating in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu more than 2,000 years ago. Though it started out as a temple ritual, Bharata Natyam has become one of the most popular theater art forms of India, combining dramatic gestures and facial expressions to convey a story, often based on Indian mythology. Malathi Iyengar studied this dance form with Guru Narmada, a student of the legendary Kittapa Pillai, of Tanjore, Inida. Today Iyengar is an accomplished performer, choreographer, and teacher, serving as the artistic director of Rangoli Dance Company in Southern California. Her daughter, Lakshmi Iyengar, has studied Bharata Natyam for sixteen years. Already a seasoned performer, she will apprentice as an assistant teacher and Nattuvanar. The Nattuvanar, or dance conductor, conducts the recital by vocalizing the dance syllables and playing cymbals.
