For more than half a century, the family name of Shankar has held international acclaim, but the name still eludes the better part of America.

It is not even safe to say most people have heard the name Ravi Shankar, aside from die-hard Beatles fans or close followers of Norah Jones ¢ Ravi Shankar influenced The Beatles in their experimental stage and fathered Jones.

Mamata Shankar, his niece, will be in Ames this Saturday, by efforts of the India Cultural Association of Central Iowa. She is one of the biggest names in Indian entertainment, with a career spanning cinema, music and dance for three decades.

It¡s a mix of classical folk, contemporary, tribal [dance], along with ballet ¢ they do a good many of their own dances,Œ says Madhu Gadia, president of the association.

Members of the association are very excited to bring an icon of Indian culture to Iowa.

She means a lot because she¡s kind of changed the dance style into a more modern way to bring modern Indian culture to us,Œ says Amita Dayal, treasurer of the association.

People will come from all over. I¡m looking forward to it very much.Œ

The show is comprised of 17 people ¢ five men and 10 women, along with two managers.

Mamata¡s parents, Uday and Amala Shankar, who are famous dancers in their own right, established the Uday form of dance.

Mamata practiced and modified her parent¡s dance to make it her own, thus creating her own school ¢ Mamata Shankar Ballet Troupe.

To make it a family affair, her husband, Chandrodoy Ghosh, directs the troupe.

Playing at the Ames City Auditorium, the show is part of a two month-long tour across the country.

Tickets are being sold at Big Table Books, 330 Main St. and at The Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Ave.

The India Cultural Association was established in 1993 and is composed of roughly 80 families.

We hold about two to three cultural events a year,ΠGadia says.

We¡ve had classical sitar, food festivals and different dance troupes.Œ