Meeting Constance and her partner Felice at at Ruth Hardy Park to share joy was loads of fun. Constance arrived playful and and eager to share her jumping for joy. It was clear from the first jump that she has experience as a dancer. We did several different photos and every time she came up with a new, creative and unique jump move. This was one of my favorites.
Get to know a little about Constance:
Q: What inspires you to jump for joy?
A: Great music, true beauty, kind people who are generous with others.
Q: How was your experience doing the jumping photos?
A: It was super fun. Eyoalha made the experience sweet with her sweet personality, her laughter and her own enjoyment of the process!
Q: How do you describe the feeling of joy?
A: I think joy is expressed in the body by an upward sensation, like bubbling from center up through heart and laughter. And maybe going up further, out into the air above! Joy is becoming more common for me as I age, as I let go of emotional states that block lightness, as I become more present to the moment.
Q: What is your greatest passion in life?
A: My life has revolved around dance, movement, art, body-mind practices. These things are always swirling around in varied compositions. At the moment, I am exploring combining all of them in my work and in my own daily life. So that in my second half of life, I really delve into the richness of these threads and create goodness for myself and others.
Q: How do you feel about being part of a community project that promotes joy?
A: Of course this is wonderful! If one doesn’t pay attention to joy, and beauty, it is all too easy to pay attention to the vulgarity and harshness of our current culture. From the ugliness of so much plastic everywhere, to the the snarkiness in conversation, it can make me despair. So I especially appreciate community projects that bring out the better side of humanity.
Q: If you could do anything in the world, what would it be?
A: Upend capitalism. And patriarchy. And give everyone food, shelter, healthcare, education.
Q: What are you working on or creating?
A: I teach movement in several different ways. One of my newer ways is in classes or workshops that have as the central theme and practice, moving with pleasure. Finding movement that feels yummy, that is less habitual, that resonates with the environment and with the group. Practicing pleasure as a resource for growth or healing. Questioning the “boot camp” fitness mentality. Exploring the taking of time and space for embodying sensuality, ease, enjoyment. Also, Desert Movement Arts is an intergenerational group of dancers that we just started last year!
Q: Mini bio or something special you want to share.
A: I have a private practice of Alexander Technique, which teaches people how to use their bodies with less tension or effort and more ease and spaciousness. Instead of working for good posture from external shape, it’s more like a mindfulness practice from the inside out. I teach adult ballet at DancewithMissLindsay studio. I facilitate “Moving with Pleasure” classes at various studios and outdoor spaces, and “peer practice” the first Sunday of every month. I am hopeful about building a community of movers, dancers, body explorers here in Palm Springs!
Connect with Constance online:
Twitter: @constanceclare
Instagram: @constanceclare
FB page: /Alexander-Technique-with-Constance-Clare-Newman and /peerpracticedesert
Other links: www.constanceclare.com and http://desertmovementarts.weebly.com
Thank you for sharing your shining jumping joy with us!
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Thank you to the Palm Springs Cultural Center inviting me to be your first Artist in residence and bringing the Jump for Joy Photo Project to the Coachella Valley.
If you live in the Coachella Valley and would like more info on the project, or would like to take part, email us: jumpforjoy@psculturalcenter.org
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Follow Jump for Joy on:
Instagram: @jumpforjoyphotoproject
Twitter: @jumpforjoyphoto
Facebook: /JumpForJoyPhotoProject
JUMP FOR JOY Photo Project 
Very interesting.
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