Project Management

My PhD required setting up and managing complex international fieldwork and manuscript study during and just after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. Additional to all the usual challenges of organising a multi-faceted international project were uniquely convoluted bureaucratic, travel, financial, ethical and safety hurdles, all navigated successfully to produce rich and original field data.

As the recipient of several Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru/Arts Council of Wales awards, I was responsible for conceiving projects, designing and managing their budgets, liaising with venues and technical staff, engaging and managing artist collaborators, producing the work in question, meeting stated aims and objectives, and submitting completion reports.

Somatic Methodologies

Ethnography

Interdisciplinary Philology

• 2022-23 | PhD Student Teaching Scheme, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, The Open University: as a member of the teaching team of the undergraduate Level 2 module ‘A227: Exploring Religions’
• 2022 | Malayalam manuscript training at the École française d’Extrême-Orient, Pondicherry with Dr. S.A.S. Sarma
• 2020-23 | OOC DTP trainings in podcasting for public engagement, media, and monograph publishing
• 2020-22 | Open University mandatory trainings in data protection, equality, safeguarding, counter-terrorism, health & safety at work, information security
• February 2020 | The New Ethnographer Pre-Field Training, hosted by the London School of Economics: covering mental health in the field, ethical decision-making, conducting interviews, safety & risk in the field, positionality
• 2017 | Joint Aikikai Council/British Aikido Federation: coach level 1
• 2012 | ‘Foundation Course on Kalari Uzhichal and Kalari Chikitsa Sampradayam for students of Kalarippayattu’, CVN Kalari Sangham, East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram, taught by gurukkaḷ G. Sathyanarayanan Nair & Dr. Sandhya P.J. (BAMS)
• 2008-09 | Certificate of Higher Education in Maths & Physics, Birkbeck College, University of London (distinction)
• 2007-09 | 270 hours yoga teacher training at Triyoga London, British Wheel of Yoga and Yoga Alliance certified (distinction)

LANGUAGES
• English (native), French (near-native), Malayalam (intermediate), Sanskrit (intermediate), Spanish (basic), Italian (basic)

June 2024 | organiser: The Yoga Studies Symposium | online via CRIA-ISCTE (University Institute of Lisbon) | Co-organised with Daniela Bevilacqua: a 2-day international symposium on new books in Yoga Studies to mark 20 years since the publication of A History of Modern Yoga by Elizabeth De Michelis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjhPZJqGXLg&list=PLOcX5JqaUDhflTd4g_KoPtuNneR8jw3Bd

May 2024 | Yoga Darśana, Yoga Sādhana: Introspection, Inspiration, Institutionalisation | University of Hamburg | Paper: ‘Blended Ontologies: entanglements of yoga, martial arts and postmodern Indian dance’.

February 2024 | Malayalam in Performance: Texts & Contexts, international workshop | University of Tübingen (hybrid) | Presentation & readings: ‘What is a kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘ text?’.

September 2023 | International Indology Graduate Symposium | Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge | Paper: ‘Alternative Methodologies: Making Sense of Texts in Relation to the Embodied Practice of Kaḷarippayaṟṟ ̆, a South Indian Martial Art ’.

September 2023 | Open University–University of East Anglia PGR Symposium: Contemporary Debates in Postcolonial, Decolonial and Global Literary Studies | University of East Anglia | Paper: ‘Somatic Practice and Articulation as Decolonial Methodology in Discussions of Kaḷarippayaṟṟ ̆, a South Indian Martial Art’.

June 2023 | Open University PGR Summer Conference (Pecha Kucha joint first prize) | Pecha Kucha: ‘Transmission and the Twentieth Century Revival of Kaḷarippayaṟṟ ̆, a South Indian Martial Art’.

April 2023 | The Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions | King’s College London | Paper: ‘Evolutions in the Transmission of Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘, a South Indian Martial Art’.

November 2022 | Science in Early South Asia working group, Consortium for History of Science, Technology & Medicine | online | Presentation & readings: ‘Understanding Text in Relation to the Embodied Practice of Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘: investigating alternative methodologies’.

August 2022 | 2-day Workshop in Honour of Professor K. Nachimuthu | École française d’Extrême-Orient, Pondicherry | Paper: ‘Experiments in Alternative Methodologies: understanding text in relation to the embodied practice of kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘’.

April 2022 | organiser: 2-day kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘ text reading workshop | École française d’Extrême-Orient, Pondicherry | Lecture-demonstration: ‘Practice and Text in the South Indian Martial Art Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘: confluence, contradiction, evolution’.

November 2021 | Indialogue Conference: Network for scholar-practitioners in South-Asian performing arts | online | Video presentation on my work as scholar-practitioner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmKeKe-BQYM

October 2021 | ECITE 2021 (European Contact Improvisation Teachers’ Exchange) | University of Bedfordshire (hybrid) | Lab: Aikido forms into Contact Improvisation.

September 2021 | Practices of Embodied Reception: Adoptions and Adaptations of South Asian Spiritualities through Performance | online via the University of Bergen| Book chapter workshop: ‘From Ritualised Practice to the Stage: adoptions and adaptations of the South Indian martial art kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘’.

September 2020 | AHRC Interdisciplinary Conference: Form and Forgetting | online via the University of Cambridge| Paper: ‘Subtle Winds and Spectacular Bodies: form and forgetting in the South Indian martial art kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘’.
June 2020 | AyurYog Untangling Traditions | online | Interview: ‘Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘, health, healing āyurveda and yoga’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aEUOqFPpFE&t=8s

November 2019 | Yoga and the Traditional Physical Practices of India: Influence, Entanglement and Confrontation, the Haṭha Yoga Project workshop | SOAS, University of London | Paper: ‘Text and Practice: description and embodiment of vaṭiv˘ (posture) in kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘’.

March 2019 | Disciplines and Dialogue: the Future of Yoga and Meditation Studies | workshop for The Routledge Handbook of Yoga & Meditation Studies, SOAS, University of London | Response to Matlylda Ciołcosz’s chapter: ‘Yoga Body and Movement’.

June 2018 | The Artist Researcher in Performance | University of Bedfordshire
Workshop: ‘Feet and Centre in Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘’ (practice-based, 2 hours).

• November 2024 | SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies | host/discussant for screening of The Wrestler’s Cane, documentary film on mallakhamb.
• Member of the SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies (since 2021).
• June 2017 | All India Radio General Overseas Service | interview for ‘Our Guest’.
• Press 2017 | https://www.indianwomenblog.org/lucy-constantini-will-upgrade-your-dance-to-the-level-of-wonder-woman-with-kalari-martial-arts/
• Press 2017 | https://www.indianwomenblog.org/we-attempted-the-kalari-form-of-martial-art-with-lucy-may-shamelessly-added-some-ballet-to-it/
• Press 2017 | https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2017/Jun/07/roll-fall-and-heal-with-your-moves-1613646.html
• Press 2010 | https://www.deccanherald.com/content/49377/playing-spaces.html

Recent
July & October 2024 | Groundwork Collective for Dance Artists in South Wales | Foundational principles of martial arts into contemporary dance and improvisation (https://www.groundworkcollective.net/ ).

May 2024 | Yogic Studies | YS 128: Kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘: Embodying the Cosmic Wind (https://www.yogicstudies.com/ys-128 ).

June 2021 | SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies | designer & convenor of 2-week online summer school (https://www.academia.edu/112439756/SOAS_Centre_of_Yoga_Studies_Summer_School_2021_convenors_timetable ).

2020-22 | Triyoga London: Advanced Yoga Teacher Trainings | module titles: Yoga: An Overview of History, Context and Developments; Critical Thinking for Yoga Teachers; Inherited Bodies and Feminine Power.


Mentoring
January 2020 | Indigo Tarran’s artist residency at 2 Penrhiw | facilitating the integration of martial arts principles into dance practice (http://www.2penrhiw.co.uk/ ).

2016 | Anishaa Tavag’s residency at CVN Kalari Sangham, Thiruvananthapuram.

2016 | Laurie-Anne Langis’s residency in Wales | investigating the meeting place of, kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘, aikido, contemplative practice and dance | supported by Le Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and Theatrau Sir Gâr.

2014 | Zosia Jo in her creation of Play The Game for Joon Dance | supported by Cyngor Celfyddydau /Arts Council of Wales & The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven (https://joondance.wixsite.com/joondance/play-the-game ).


Higher & Further Education
Subjects taught include somatic alignment, contact improvisation, release technique, yoga, pedagogy, improvisation, choreography, Laban theory, kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘, movement into text, devising, voice, Shakespeare.

October 2003-April 2004 | Head of Movement, London South Bank University/Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, B.A. Acting (maternity cover) | Responsibilities included: co-designing the movement syllabus, co-ordinating the movement department, employing and managing other movement staff, collaborating with other departments (acting, singing/music, voice), teaching physical skills (contact improvisation, alignment, release, yoga, Laban), devising through text and sound, movement direction for plays and projects, choreographing/devising movement projects, co-teaching Shakespeare, 3rd year pastoral tutor.

•2015 | Coleg Sir Gâr | residency with dance students on improvisation scores, aikido, kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘ and contact improvisation, Llanelli.
•2011 | Swansea Metropolitan University |professional practice
•2009-10 | Attakkalari | Diploma in Movement Arts & Mixed Media, Bengaluru, India.
•1998-2005 | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) | NYU Shakespeare course, London.
•2000-05 | London South Bank University/Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts | B.A. Acting.
•2001 | New Africa Theatre School | Cape Town, South Africa.
•2001 | University of Stellenbosch | Stellenbosch, South Africa.
•1999 & 2001 | King’s College London |M.A. Text & Performance Studies.
•1999 & 2001 | Goldsmiths, University of London | M.A. in Theatre Arts.
•1997-2000 | Central School of Ballet | creative dance & acting tutor, London.
•Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance | movement direction for final year plays, movement auditions for new intakes, London.
•ALRA (Academy of Live & Recorded Arts) | movement auditions for new intakes, London.

Other Freelance Teaching
•2014-19 | Triyoga London | philosophy & history faculty on the 270-hour Yoga Teacher Training programmes.
•2017 | Shoonya Centre for Arts and Somatic Practices | aikido into contact improvisation, Bengaluru.
•2017 | Jawahar Kala Kendra | kaḷari into contemporary dance practice, Jaipur.
•2013-20 | Glenalla Hall & Y Ffwrnes Theatre | community yoga classes in Llanelli.
•2013-14 | Y Ffwrnes Theatre Llanelli | kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘ community workshop delivery.
•2011 | Volcano, Swansea 229 | meditation for artists.
•2012-15 | Swansea Contact Improvisation | founder and teacher.
•2013 | Penpynfarch | ‘This Is Somatic…’ workshop series, Llandysul, West Wales.
•2012-14 | Arts Care Gofal Celf | mentoring, choreographing & teaching on D12 & D13 projects and LegaC Youth Dance Company, kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘ class delivery, Touch Trust support (creative movement for people with profound disabilities) in West Wales.
•2012 | Fluid: ongoing training for dancers and actors | improvisation into performance, underscore practice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhYJC2M36bs ), Bengaluru.
•2011 | National Youth Theatre of Great Britain | course director, Laban & Royal National Theatre, London.
•2011 | Bristol Contact Jam.
•2010 |Epic Arts, Cambodia | contact improvisation and devising with artists with physical and hearing disabilities, Kampot.

Independent Dance/Theatre Artist since 1997
A full performance CV is available on request.

I work as independent dance-maker, performer, movement director and facilitator. Examples of my work can be viewed at https://lucymayconstantini.wordpress.com/dance/ Some choreography includes:

2019 | Fighting Like A Girl and What It Taught Me | supported by Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru/Arts Council of Wales & Theatrau Sir Gâr/Carmarthenshire Theatres
A solo exploring gender and sexual/violence that asks ‘how does our work with and through the body help us manage what is done to the body?’ It integrates somatic praxes with the martial arts kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘ and aikido, featuring multi-lingual text (English, Welsh, French, Sanskrit) that marries elements of autobiography with selections of the Devīmāhātmya, the epic that established the Indian tradition of the warrior goddess.

2017 | Not Two/Advaita | supported by Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru/Arts Council of Wales & Theatrau Sir Gâr/Carmarthenshire Theatres
A collaboration with classical Indian musician Rajesh David.

2013 | Rituals of Faith and Imagination | supported by Theatrau Sir Gâr/Carmarthenshire Theatres as Y Ffwrnes Adopta Artist
A solo drawing on an extended period of training at CVN Kalari Sangham in Thiruvananthapuram, interweaving kaḷarippayaṟṟ˘, somatic ritual, and words gridded on the body and in space.

2012 | H₂0 : avant le déluge | supported by Volcano Theatre Company
A collaboration with theatre maker Helen Tennison on water, its spiritual, emotional and ecological dimensions.

2011 | There’s a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in | with Gower Films
A short film exploring the meeting place of dance, aikido and the Welsh coast.

2010/11 | La Blanche (the white girl) | supported by the Alliance Française de Bangalore, Bonjour India! festival, Chapter Cardiff, Volcano Theatre Company and Pineapple Dance Studios
Bi-lingual, scripted improvisation on colour, memory and the geography of belonging.

2010 | The Spaces Between | supported by the Alliance Française de Bangalore, Bonjour India! festival
A collaboration with emerging dancers in Bengaluru.

2001 | On your island, does the night fall later? | for Remix Dance Project in Cape Town, South Africa
A duet for two dancers, one using a wheelchair, which toured South Africa. Malcolm Black was subsequently nominated ‘best newcomer’ for his performance at the Cape Town Dance Indaba. While in South Africa, I also consulted on a devised play commissioned by the Robben Island Museum.

1998 | After Everything | supported by the Gulbenkian Studio, Newcastle Playhouse and Tramway @the Arches, Glasgow
An exploration of collapsed relationships, dance, puppetry and writing.

1997 | French Letters | a collaboration with Quennesson Dance Theatre
Dance-theatre performed at the Théâtre des Trois Chênes, Le Quesnoy, and the Théâtre de la Ville, Douai, France.

1997 | Untitled | solo in collaboration with Nicola Visser, Laban Centre Graduate Concert.



Broadcast Journalism: 2005-07

2007 | BBC English Regions | Sacred Dances
A 54-minute radio documentary and 4-part series for BBC English Regions’ Faith and Ethics Department, broadcast over the May bank holiday, repeated the following Christmas. It explored the relationship between religions and dance and was taken up by 37 BBC English local radio stations.

2006-07 | BBC Radio Berkshire
• Clare Catford’s Sunday breakfast show producer (February – July 2007). The show looked at the week’s news from an ethical/faith perspective. In my time as producer, the RAJAR figures increased. I also produced the Richard Skinner music show on Sundays.
• Henry Kelly (mid-morning) show producer (January-February 2007).
• Occasional Phil Kennedy Drive-time show producer.
• Occasional newsreading (including preparation and writing of all bulletins and headlines during my shifts).
• Occasional breakfast producer.

2006 | BBC Radio Essex
Election coverage of the Barking & Dagenham Council count, including six live 2-ways reporting on the far-right British National Party gains over the course of the night.

2006 | Other BBC Radio
• BBC Radio Wales (June, 2006): Broadcast pieces included an interview with Mickey Rooney on his visit to Wales and a package on playground design in Cardiff.
• Radio 1 Newsbeat (May, 2006).
• BBC Oxford (April 2006).
• Radio 5 Live (March, 2006): producer on the Anita Anand / Brian Hayes Programme.
• BBC World Service (February 2006): producer on World Have Your Say.