Incoming ADTA President Jody Wager (l); Loman (c); Outgoing President Sherry Goodill. Sherry introduced Susan and presented the award. Photo by David Eisenstadter.
Keene, NH—Susan Loman, the Director of the Antioch University New England (AUNE) Master’s Program in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling, was awarded the American Dance Therapy Association’s (ADTA) Lifetime Achievement Award for her tremendous, lifelong commitment to the field of dance/movement therapy. Loman, who is also a professor and associate chairperson at AUNE’s department of applied psychology, received the award during the ADTA’s National Conference in Loman’s hometown of Chicago, and celebrated with an evening of accolades and – of course – dancing.
“The thing I love the most about being a dance/movement therapist is this wonderful community that we have together,” Loman said upon receiving the award. “I look forward to dancing with everyone!”
Dance/movement therapy is a psychotherapeutic and integrative use of movement to further a person’s emotional, cognitive, physical and social wellness through verbal and non-verbal approaches. Its hands-on methods to healing is promoted through the ADTA, which was founded in 1966 and is the only US organization dedicated to the profession of dance/movement therapy.
“Nowadays, many people lose touch with how the body can be expressive and help release feelings or tension,” Loman said. “We work with the healthy parts of people and often impart a sense of fun and joy in their lives, whether for a few moments or lasting long-term. It is so gratifying to see the changes in people’s ability to express themselves and communicate more fully. I know I have made a difference in many people’s lives: patients, babies and parents, and students which has made my life so full and rich.”
Loman’s vast experience and expertise in dance/movement therapy have inspired students and colleagues alike. A nationally-certified counselor and a board-certified member of the ADTA who chaired its Education Committee from 1995-1999, Loman also served as co-editor of the American Journal of Dance Therapy from 2011-2014 and was on the editorial board of The Arts in Psychotherapy from 1996 to 2011. A Kestenberg Movement Profile (KMP) analyst and expert, she worked closely with Judith Kestenberg, the psychoanalyst who developed the KMP – which is an interpretation of body language through developmentally-based movement analysis – for eight years. She has chaired four conferences on the KMP, written numerous articles, and co-edited three books, including The Meaning of Movement: Developmental and Clinical Perspectives of the Kestenberg Movement Profile.
Loman received her Master’s degree in dance/movement therapy from Goddard College and her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington University. Prior to joining AUNE, Loman taught the KMP system at the Laban/ Bartenieff Institute for Movement Studies in New York for 14 years. She has lectured and conducted workshops in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, England, Scotland, South Korea, and the Netherlands, as well as throughout the United States.
“While Susan’s publications, teaching and service to the profession are obvious, it is her warmth, welcome, and passion for the profession that extends beyond her expertise inspiring her students and colleagues alike,” said Christina Devereaux, assistant professor and director of clinical training, dance movement therapy, at AUNE.
To learn more about AUNE’s MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling or dance/movement therapy programs, please visit antiochne.edu. For more information about the ADTA, please visit adta.org.
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About Antioch University
Antioch University is a bold and enduring source of innovation in higher education that serves adult students around the world, online and from its five campuses in four states in addition to its University-wide international and doctoral programs. The University lives by its mission every day by helping students realize their potential and achieve their educational goals through an innovative, rigorous and responsive learning environment Antioch University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1927. Antioch University New England is home to the first-in-the-country Environmental Studies and Educating for Sustainability graduate programs and Conservation Psychology Institute, and offers a top-ranked MBA in Sustainability as well as Clinical and Applied Psychology.
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