Lora Wilson
Lora Wilson, MA, BC-DMT, is a lecturer in the Dance Department at California State University, Long Beach, and in the ºÚÁÏÍø University Honors Program. She has taught over 4,000 college students about the powerful reciprocity of the body–mind connection, the importance of nonverbal communication in interpersonal relationships, and the social, emotional, and neuroprotective reasons humans must dance in order to thrive.
A conservatory-trained actor, Lora enjoys public speaking and has presented at conferences across the United States and Europe.
Lora is a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist (BC-DMT) who graduated cum laude with honors from Wright State University with a B.F.A. in Acting and earned an M.A. in Dance as Healing and Therapy from the University of California, Los Angeles. She furthered her dance/movement therapy (DMT) training at Kinectionsâ„¢ in Rochester, New York, under the mentorship of dance/movement therapy pioneer Danielle Fraenkel, PhD, BC-DMT.
Lora is a published scholar whose research focuses on the implications of dance/movement therapy on neuroplasticity and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the vital role of dance/movement therapy in addressing the national epidemic of loneliness and isolation.
She also produced and directed 42 educational videos on dance/movement therapy for the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), available on the ADTA YouTube channel.
- Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist, educator, performer, choreographer, and creative writer.
- Over 25 years of experience facilitating embodied connection and joy through dance with people of all ages.
- Clinical experience includes work with adolescents with eating disorders, individuals with persistent and severe mental illness, and elders living with memory impairment.
- Served two terms on the ADTA Board of Directors as Public Relations Chairperson.
- Produced five virtual conferences and numerous webinars as Continuing Education Manager for the ADTA.
- Recipient of multiple national honors from the ADTA, including:
- Leader of Tomorrow Award
- Outstanding Achievement Award
- Exceptional Service Award
- President’s Award
