Our Mission
DMTO supports the development of Dance Movement Therapy in Ontario. Formed of a small working group of invested professionals and a wider network of community members, including Dance Movement Therapists, community dance facilitators, creative arts therapists, and other interested professionals, we work towards advancing the profession and supporting Dance Movement Therapists working in Ontario.
There has been a gap in how the profession of DMT has developed in Canada, with events and training options available in Quebec and British Colombia, but very little happening in Ontario. An increasing number of DMTs working in Ontario and growing interest from students and client populations, as well as our own passion for this profession, has inspired us to fill this gap through the formation of DMTO.
Our Goals
Dance Movement Therapy Ontario is focusing on seven key areas for development over the next year, and hopes to meet our community’s needs by facilitating the following:
EVENT COORDINATION
-Organizing working meetings, networking meetings, and workshops
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
-peer support
-modelling of collegiality (other professions/standards of practice and pay)
-developing templates for professional documents (contracts, consent forms, etc.)
-research into practice and policy from allied professions
FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS
-cultivating new partnerships and sources of funding
REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNITY
-updates on activities of DMTAC, OEATA, and CRPO and communication with these organizations
MARKETING AND PUBLICITY
-website and public presence, social media
-photo documentation of Dance Movement Therapy Ontario activities
EDUCATION AND ACCREDITATION
-working towards a Masters level training program in Ontario
-developing a system of accreditation for Dance Movement Therapists working in Canada
Meet the committee leaders:
Rebecca Barnstaple – Event Coordination
Dance/Movement Therapy Alternate Route, NCDT
BA (hons), MA Interdisciplinary Studies (Dance/Neuroscience/Philosophy)
Diplome des Etudes Superieurs Specialise, L’education somatique (Feldenkrais)
Megan English – Professional Development
BFA (hons), MA Dance Movement Therapy, Registered Psychotherapist
Level I Body-Inclusive Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
OACCPP, RDMP with ADMPUK
DMTAC Board Member
Jessica Houghton – Funding and Partnerships
BFA (hons), MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy, Registered Psychotherapist
OEATA, DMTAC
DMTAC Board Member
Miriam Schacter – Marketing and Publicity
BA CTP Dipl. Registered Psychotherapist
Level II Body-Inclusive Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Founder danceABILITIES™
Ayana Spivak – Representation and Community
MA Psychology, Registered Psychotherapist
EXAT (OEATA), DMT
DMTAC Ontario Representative and Board Member
Dance/Movement Therapy Alternate Route, NCDT
BA (hons), MA Cultural Studies (Biotech Art + Embodiment), PhD candidate, Psychophysiology of DMT
DMTAC Board Member
How to get involved:
Want to volunteer for one of our committees? We are looking for energetic volunteers who are interested in promoting the profession of Dance Movement Therapy in Ontario. If you feel you have something to offer and would like to get involved, please get in touch with us at info@dmtac.org.
DMTO 