On Saturday, June 28, 2025, as we entered the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, we were welcomed by the view of colorful flowers strewn along the lip of the stage. Lovely intricate sculptures by Suresh Iyengar flanked the stage on either side. It was an invitation for the senses.
The setting, both intimate and celebratory, reflected the spirit of the evening: MOKSHA – was the 40 year anniversary of Rangoli Dance Company. The energy in the theater was palpable. A community of enthusiastic fans, devoted well-wishers, and newcomers mingled with joy and anticipation, clearly aware that they were about to witness a very special occasion. And rightly so—this transcendent evening, filled with beauty and talent, lifted the audience far away from the noise of the everyday world.
Rangoli Dance Company – MOKSHA – Photo by Keith Hedgecock.
The Rangoli Dance Company embodies the incredibly difficult and technical Southern Indian Bharatanatyam tradition with grace and depth. Every gesture—of the eyes, head, hands, and fingers—is articulated with precision and expression, while the rhythmic footwork, accompanied by the sound of ankle bells, anchor the ethereal to the earth.
Artistic Directors and choreographers, Malathi Iyengar and Lakshmi Iyengar, with their luminous Rangoli Dance Company dancers: Sheila Aula, Shivani Aysola, Vyshnavi Aysola, Alia Bartlett, Natasha Bhogal, Lakshmi Iyengar, Hema Iyer, Ritika Iyer, Sweta Joseph, Shriya Kashyap, Nina Krishnan, Yamuna Lech, Amiya Prasad, Anya Prasad, Anisha Rao, Anjali Sheth, Nishitha Viswanathan, and Anshu Voruganti—offered a true gift: a legacy performance in honor of four decades of inspired work.
Rangoli Dance Company – MOKSHA – Photo by Gene Lewis.
The dazzling costumes of royal blue, teal, white, and gold—beautifully pleated saris paired with matching dodi and cholis were accentuated by Shawn Fidler’s aesthetic lighting. The nine musical pieces were composed by a variety of legendary composers, lyricist, a poet and musicians which included vocalists, violin, flute, veena, morsing, and khanjira, providing a rhythmic and gentle path into the heart of the evening, enriching the performance with mood and emotion.
The evening opened with a classic invocation to Lord Ganesha, the god of beginnings and flowed with solos, duets, trios, quartets and full company pieces from the 12th, 15th, 20th and 21st centuries.
Rangoli Dance Company – MOKSHA Varshini – Photo by Gene Lewis.
Impossible to pick just a few highlights but a stunning piece choreographed by Malathi for Anshu Voruganti and Nina Krishnan, about a mother’s love for her child was outstanding; along with “Varshini” which premiered in 2010. It represented joy, purification and renewal and was performed by three gorgeous dancers, Lakshmi Iyengar, Shivani Aysola and Vyshnavi Aysola. The piece captured the power of how movement becomes the music. Malathi and Lakshmi always created a range throughout the evening that surprised and fascinated. This evening was a meditation in movement, filled with refined storytelling and intelligent spatial design. The intricate patterns, executed with such clarity and thoughtfulness, revealed the love and care that had gone into the dance making.
Rangoli Dance Company – MOKSHA – Sriman – Photo by Gene Lewis.
As the performance unfolded, one began to realize that this was more than a dance performance; it was a soulful offering. The Iyengars’ devotion to the classical tradition, and to their dancers, shone through in every detail. Their choreography, deeply rooted in classic vocabulary was very much alive with creative expression, honoring the past while guiding a new generation forward. The result was a celebration that resonated with grace, intention, and profound meaning.
With the dynamics, rhythm and beauty, one went away believing that this kind of training would be an asset to all dance, imbuing such power and love with the aesthetics of music and movement.
Rangoli Dance Company – MOKSHA – Photo by Keith Hedgecock.
MOKSHA was not only a celebration of 40 years of artistic excellence, but also a vivid reminder of how tradition and creativity can intersect, creating something timeless. For the Iyengars, their dancers, and the grateful audience, this evening was a radiant milestone—and a luminous beginning.
For more information about the Rangoli Dance Company, please visit their website.
Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Rangoli Dance Company – Moksha – Thillana – Photo by Gene Lewis.
