Dr. Suzi Tortora
Suzi Tortora, ED.D., BC-DMT, C.M.A., LCAT, LMHC
she/ her
Dr. Tortora is a board-certified dance movement therapist, Laban Nonverbal Movement Analyst, and specialist in the field of infancy mental health and development. Her expertise in early childhood development and the importance of early relationships inform her psychotherapeutic work across the lifespan. Dr. Tortora has a private dance movement psychotherapy practice, in New York City and Cold Spring-on-the-Hudson, New York. Dr. Tortora offers training programs and lectures about her dance therapy and nonverbal video analysis work with infants, children, and families, at national and international professional meetings and universities.
She is on the board of the New York Zero-to-Three Network.
Dr. Tortora has been featured on “Good Morning America” and Eyewitness Five-O’Clock News, WABC –TV; Women’s Day magazine; highlighted in Malcolm Gladwell's New Yorker article and book titled What the Dog Saw and other adventures; has published numerous papers about her therapeutic and nonverbal communication analysis work with children, parent-infant dyads, and Autism Spectrum Disorders; has twice been guest editor of the Zero to Three Journal; and has a book with Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company titled The Dancing Dialogue: Using the Communicative Power of Movement with Young Children.
Dr. Tortora graduated with honors from the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development at Tufts University specializing in child development, education, and psychology; received her dance movement therapy master’s degree at New York University; and her doctorate with a specialization in infancy/early childhood development, psychology, and education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
She has done extensive study and training in the field of infancy and early childhood research, development, education, communication, and intervention through the Zero to Three Institute and Dr. Stanley Greenspan. She has studied Authentic Movement with Janet Adler & Body-Mind Centering with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. Dr. Tortora is also a certified Laban Movement Analyst and Kestenberg Movement Profiler.
Suzi practices at both the Cold Spring and New York City offices.
More with Dr. Suzi Tortora, ED.D., BC-DMT, C.M.A., LCAT, LMHC
Lullaby Dance Project
Press Release March 2012; June 2014; December 2015
Thank you for your interest and support in participating in my Lullaby Dance Project video filming. I conceived of The Lullaby Dance Project over these last few years while I have been conducting international trainings of my Ways of Seeing program. The Ways of Seeing program provides a variety of curriculums to support infants, children and their families from wellness to educational and private therapeutic services using music, dance, movement, and play activities. The Ways of Seeing philosophy is based on the principles of infant mental health, early childhood development and education, dance movement psychotherapy, authentic movement practice and Laban nonverbal movement analysis.
In these trainings I teach how to use dance, movement, music, songs and play to help a parent bond to their baby or young child. These dances songs both strengthen the growing attachment relationship and help the parent learn how to read their child's nonverbal cues.
A wonderful thing has happened in the different countries I have traveled in as I teach the Ways of Seeing method. My students have begun to teach me their favorite lullabies and playful dancing songs and games that are classic and contemporary from their own culture and country as well as the personal dances, songs and games they have created with their children uniquely within their own families. I am learning a wonderful variety of dances and songs from different cultures. They may be used to calm and help their children to fall asleep as well as playful dance games to engage them. It has become a lovely exchange. I am now starting to collect these songs, dances and playful games through videotape.
My goal in collecting these dances, songs and games is to create a body of work that documents the important role of nonverbal communication/nonverbal cues, dance, movement, song, and playful games in the developing parent -child relationship. I hope to be able to use this video footage to create a cross-cultural library for study, research and publication.
Who I am: Dr, Suzi Tortora is a dance movement psychotherapist, Laban Movement Analyst, infancy mental health specialist, published author and international lecturer. She is the director and founder of Dancing Dialogue Healing & Expressive Arts PLLC - A center for movement, music and dance- based arts that support healing and self- expression.
Thank you again for participate in this video filming and agreeing to sign the consent form provided.
Please share videos of your dancing dialogues using lullaby circles of connection
Past Lectures & Workshops
Sensitize yourself to the ways young children learn and express themselves through their movement and senses.
Explore nonverbal cues and movement activities that support early attachment relationships and social, emotional and cognitive development. For parents, caregivers and professionals, these activities are used with families or groups and in dyadic or individual therapeutic, hospital, preventative and child-care settings.
Sensitize yourself to the ways young children learn and express themselves through their movement and senses.
Explore nonverbal cues and movement activities that support early attachment relationships and social, emotional and cognitive development. For parents, caregivers and professionals, these activities are used with families or groups and in dyadic or individual therapeutic, hospital, preventative and child-care settings.
Lullaby circles of connection: The cross-cultural thread in soothing and engaging parenting styles through nonverbal interaction using rhythm, song, and dance.
The Underlying Meaning of Infant and Young Children’s Behaviors: how the embodied experiential nature of our interactions can build emotional expression, social engagement and strengthen the attachment relationship between infants/young children and their caregivers.
ADTA Annual Conference.
Instructors Suzi Tortora & Martha Eddy.
Chronic Pain & Early Attachment: A Movement Process for Awareness and Healing with SUZI TORTORA, EDD, BC-DMT, LCAT, LMHC
Hosting Organizations: New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and the Professional Development Program
Will be giving a talk at the Young Child Expo & Conference on Ways of Seeing: Supporting Early Attachment and Development in ASD using Creative Dance/Movement Psychotherapy
Workshop: Non-verbal interactions as a port of entry for insight-oriented family therapies — with Miri Keren, Elisabeth Fivaz, Diane Philipp (moderator/discussant)
All body actions have the potential to be communications for the body tells stories that speak of our experiences.
How the Body Speaks -- The Use of Dance and Nonverbal Analysis as a Creative Therapeutic Approach with Children
Dance Therapy with Infants, Children and Families
Sensitize yourself to the ways young children communicate, learn and express themselves through their movement and senses.
Based on the intricate relationship between the brain and body, the instructor will introduce deeper ways to understanding the role that multisensory learning plays in all levels of a young child’s development, using the Ways of Seeing program.
This workshop will introduce psychoanalytic clinicians to a novel, ongoing multi-modal treatment that was catalyzed by an impasse during an intensive psychotherapy of a severely disturbed woman with gaze aversion.
Sensitize yourself to the ways young children communicate, learn and express themselves through their movement and senses.
"Military Families and Complicated Parental Death: Supporting the Youngest Child in the Context of Traumatic Loss and Suicide"
This creative arts therapeutic approach for children and families draws upon each participant's personal creativity and expressivity to care for their psychological, emotional and physical health.
A comprehensive review of research discussing the infant's experiences that occur outside of verbal conscious awareness, described by Stern as "implicit knowledge" will be presented. Discussed from a developmental and attachment perspective, the important role qualitative aspects of nonverbal expression and exchange with be highlighted using a parent-infant attachment relationship analysis system.
Children's Creative Arts Day: Engaging the Creative Mind
Exploring research and practice in the identification and treatment of trauma resulting from terrifying and disruptive medical experiences
This unique, half-day creative seminar in group therapy will introduce participants to Psychodrama and Art Therapy as intervention techniques through experiential and didactic methods. There will be an opportunity to participate in a classic Psychodrama.
Sensitize yourself to the ways young children communicate, learn and express themselves through their movement and senses.
This unique, half-day creative seminar in group therapy will introduce participants to music, dance, and poetry as therapeutic techniques, Participants from the first CAT workshop will deepen their skills and learn new techniques.
Video-analysis and treamtent of a parent-infant attachment relationship.
This unique, half-day creative seminar in group therapy will introduce participants to music, dance, and poetry as therapeutic techniques. Participants from the first CAT workshop will deepen their skills and learn new techniques.
Using Dance Therapy to support the Attachment relationship
5 Day Training, 2 Day Conference
This workshop will provide useful information and hands-on experience for parents of young children, with and without special needs.
This unique, half-day creative seminar in group therapy will introduce participants to psychodrama and art as therapeutic techniques. Participants from the first CAT workshop will deepen their skills and learn new techniques.
This unique, half-day creative seminar in group therapy will introduce participants to music, dance, and poetry as therapeutic techniques. Participants from the first CAT workshop will deepen their skills and learn new techniques.
Development and experience are rooted in the body, shaping how we feel, think, move, and communicate. In this conference, we will explore how these phenomena occur and the implications of these mind-body connections for both young children and their caregivers.
B.I.T.E. The Body Image Transformation Experience® Mentoring Group
Suzi Tortora, EdD, ADTA, CMA talks about Beyond Crying: Pain, Trauma, and Stress in Early Childhood.
Suzi Tortora will be interviewing Myron Hofer, MD. The Effects of Psychology on Biology: The Impact of the Parent – Infant Relationship on Healthy Child Development.
Suzi Tortora is the invited lecturer for a half day pre-conference workshop nurturing relationships through multi-sensory interaction in dance movement therapy.
Suzi Tortora on ways of Seeing: Dance Movement Therapy with Infants, Children & Families
Suzi Tortora holds two Sessions: Workshop Training and Poster Session.
Suzi Tortora, EdD, ADTR, CMA, KMP holds a presentation about regulation, attachment and emotional development – Part 2
Suzi Tortora, EdD, ADTR, CMA, LCAT, LMHC Dance Movement Psychotherapy: Infants and Young Children.
Suzi Tortora Ed.D, CMA, ADTR, LCAT, LMHC Workshop 4 – Let's Dance! Nurturing Relationships through Multi-sensory Interaction.
A Family Fun Event Benefiting Children with cancer and special needs through: The Andrea Rizzo Dance Therapy Program.
Suzi Tortora will be teaching an inner focusing movement meditation practice involving listening to your body and allowing your body to move you.
Private Creative Family Dance Workshop with Dr. Suzi Tortora.
Suzi Tortora teaching a 3 Session Authentic Movement Workshop.
Suzi Tortora exploring Children's Love of Movement from typical to atypical development.
The Dancing Dialogue: Using the communicative power of movement with young children.
Suzi Tortora presented with Phyllis Cohen, Rita Reiswig, Sally Moskowitz, Donna Demetri Friedman, and K. Mark Sossin.
Dance Movement Psychotherapy: Infants and Young Children with Dr. Suzi Tortora Ed.D., ADTR, CMA, LCAT, LMHC.
Dr. Tortora is the founder and director of Dancing Dialogue: Healing & Expressive Arts - A center for movement, music, and dance-based arts that support healing and self-expression.
Suzi Tortora on using the communicative power of movement with young children.
Suzi Tortora & Jocelyn Shaw 13th Annual Professional Development Conference.
A panel with Susan Rizzo Vincent, Suzi Tortora, Christina Devereaux, Jocelyn Shaw,
Sharon O' Neill Mulcahy, and Jean Basiner
A panel with Nancy Beardall, Martha Eddy and Suzi Tortora
The essential role of movement in all levels of development, 7th forum on early childhood settings.
Suzi Tortora will have a workshop as a part of the Festival.
Anni Bergman, Donna Demetri Friedman, Rita Reiswig, Mark Sossin, and Suzi Tortora
support groups and mother-infant bonding consultations for mothers pregnant and widowed on 9-11-01.
Exploring children's love of movement from typical to atypical development.
Suzi Tortora is in the May 22, 2006 issue of the New Yorker Magazine Featured in Malcolm Gladwell's article titled "What the Dog Saw" Cesar Millan and the enigma of presence.
Suzi Tortora, Ed.D, ADTR, CMA, LCAT, LMHC
Sensory Therapies In Pediatric Pain And Symptom Management
The Dancing Dialogue: Using the Communicative Power of Movement with Young Children to Enhance Social-Emotional Development
The Use of Nonverbal Movement Analysis in the Treatment of Women Pregnant and Widowed on 9-11
In this roundtable, Dr. Suzi Tortora will explore the expressive quality of infants' and young children's nonverbal cues with the help of videos presenting typical children, including a case study of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Book Signing Party & Presentation from her newly published book:
"The Dancing Dialogue: Using the Communicative Power of Movement with Young Children"
Participants will learn about Dr. Tortora's "Ways of Seeing" Program, exploring nonverbal cues expressed by infants and young children, and experience movement activities that support early attachment relationships, and social, emotional, and cognitive development.
The Dancing Dialogue: Using the Communicative Power of Movement with Young Children
The Dancing Dialogue: Using the Communicative Power of Movement with Young Children to Enhance Social-Emotional Development.
Keeping Babies On The Map: Progressive Policies, Cutting-edge Research, and Innovative Practice
This presentation will demonstrate how the nonverbal component of multi-sensory experience influences the attachment relationship, including the nonverbal messages that occur through touch.
Forum on Early Childhood Settings: Sixth gathering.
The science and method of using multi-sensory techniques along the healing journey.
American Dance Therapy Association 40th Annual Conference; American Rhythms/International Rhythms.
The Dancing Dialogue: Using the Power of Movement to Support
Communication & Attachment with Young Children & Families
Dr. Tortora discusses how she works with children along the Autistic Spectrum.
Suzi Tortora signing her book Emotions in Motion: Infants, Young Children & Parents Dancing with Feelings
Anni Bergman, Sally Moskowitz, Rita Reiswig, and K. Mark Sossin. Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma; What we have learned in our work with mothers and infants affected by the trauma of 9/11. New Developments in Psychoanalysis.
Exploring Children's Love of Movement
Exploring Children's Love of Movement from Typical to Atypical Development
Suzi Tortora talks about the use of nonverbal movement analysis in the treatment of women
pregnant and widowed on 9-11.
Grand Rounds at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC)
Suzi Tortora will hold a guest lecture at the Postgraduate Training Program of Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services
Dr Tortora will be discussing her work and upcoming book: The Dancing Dialogue: Using the Communicative Power of Movement with Young Children
Suzi Tortora's dance therapy work will be featured on A&E national TV. Her segment will be during 9-10 AM (EST).
Move Baby Move: The Essential Role of Movement in All Levels of Development
Forum On Early Childhood Settings: Fifth Gathering
From Nonverbal To Verbal In Dance Movement Therapy
Dance movement psychotherapy work with a child with PDD
Korean Dance Therapy Academy President: Boon Soon Ryu, PhD, ADTR
Observation, Assessment, Intervention And Educational Programming
Exploring Children's Love of Movement
The Use of LMA, Bartenieff Fundamentals and Dance Therapy to Support Infancy Research & Intervention with a young Child with Autism.
Keep on Moving: The Use of Movement and Nonverbal Observation in Development, Assessment, Intervention and Creative Dance Expression to Support Early Childhood Relationships.
Keep on Moving: The Use of Movement and Nonverbal Observation in Development, Assessment, Intervention and Creative Dance Expression to Support Early Childhood Relationships
Guest lecturer, Suzi Tortora
Institute for Infants, Children & Families
Guest Editor, Suzi Tortora
Issue titled "Exploring a Multi-sensory World: How Infants and Toddlers
Use Their Bodies To Learn and Communicate"
Forum on Early Childhood Settings: Fourth Gathering
Attachment Theory and Nonverbal Interaction Part 1 & 2
Dance taught by Dr. Suzi Totora at Teachers College, Columbia University
Dance, Identity and Integration
Presenting workshop titled "Riverdance Boy"
Statement for the Congressional Record in Recognition of
National Creative Arts Therapies Week
"What is the message behind your child's behavior? Learning how to
understand your child's nonverbal cues."
Postgraduate Training Program of Jewish Board
of Family and Children's Services
Keynote speaker, Suzi Tortora
Getting Verbal about Dance/Movement Therapy
How to Speak so Other Professions Listen
Ways of Seeing International Training Program Webinar: A 2-year Postgraduate Training Program, Live Online Training Program
Suzi Tortora, Ed.D., BC-DMT, LCAT, LMHC, CMA
Curriculum and General Information