Pennsylvania Chapter
American Dance Therapy Association
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the
American Dance Therapy Association
PA ADTA Chapter Officers
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President
Amy Ruzic, MA, BC-DMT, LPC
Amy (she/her) graduated from Drexel’s Creative Arts Therapy & Counseling Program in 2002, and the majority of her clinical work as a Dance/Movement Therapist has supported marginalized children and teens in Philadelphia schools. She is honored to witness the creative freedom and connection that DMT brings to neurodiverse students with emotional differences. Amy also works with young children and their families in an expressive and play therapy group practice in the Philadelphia suburbs. She enjoys the opportunities to collaborate with caregivers using playful and affirming approaches. Amy supervises graduate students and new professionals seeking board-certification and licensure. She enjoys gardening, listening/singing/dancing to music, traveling and eating well.
Job Duties: Support and hold space for the amazing Board Members, act as a Liaison for the National ADTA.
Contact: paadta.president@gmail.com
Secretary
Maddy Kling, MA, R-DMT
Maddy is a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist currently practicing with The Understory Group, where she provides outpatient dance/movement therapy for individuals and families. She holds a Master’s in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University. Maddy integrates attachment-based, systemic, and feminist approaches into her work, emphasizing person-centered care and community connection. Her leadership and advocacy experience spans roles in student outreach, diversity, and inclusion groups, where she developed skills in presenting, organizing, and coalition-building. Passionate about making movement-based healing accessible, Maddy is committed to helping clients build sustainable change through embodied, creative, and trauma-informed practices.
Job Duties: Keep record of proceedings, maintain membership roster, e-mail correspondence, monthly newsletter of chapter happenings.
Contact: paadta.secretary@gmail.com
Treasurer
Gracie Metcalf, MA, R-DMT, LAPC
Gracie is a behavioral health therapist and R-DMT at Inspira Health Children’s Partial Hospitalization Program. A graduate of Drexel University program, Gracie has gained clinical experience and training working with populations including adult and older adult veterans, adults on the autism spectrum and with other developmental disabilities, and child/adolescent behavioral health facilitating individual, group, and family therapy sessions. Gracie is also passionate about sharing dance instruction and choreography across an inclusive range of ages, settings, and abilities.
Job Description: Maintain all financial records, manage bank account, prepare and submit taxes and budget
Contact: paadta.treasury@gmail.com
Public Relations
Sara Earl, MS, BC-DMT, LPC, NCC
Sara has been facilitating movement experiences for over two decades in recreational, clinical and educational environments. In 2022 she grounded
this practical experience in the theoretical validity of Dance/Movement Therapy through alternate route certification. Sara has a private practice, works part-time at an inpatient treatment facility specializing in eating disorders and is an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University. DMT is a second career for Sara, having previously worked as a visual communicator. Sara lives just outside of Philadelphia with her husband and three daughters, all of whom love to dance. Sara is also serving concurrently as the ADTA's Interim Marketing Manager.
Job Description: Manages communications to membership and regionally promotes chapter events, the ADTA and D/MT.
Contact: paadta.publicrelations@gmail.com
Rachel Greene, MA, BC-DMT, LPC
Rachel (she/her) graduated from Drexel's Creative Arts Therapy & Counseling Program in 2011 and became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2015. Serving as Assistant Director of Child Therapy at Equilibria Psychological and Consulta-tion Services (group private practice in the greater Philadelphia area), she enjoys facilitating connection through learning opportunities and providing clinical support among the child and adolescent therapists at the practice. Rachel also holds a caseload of both adults and young clients, which feels like a healthy balance. In her free time, she enjoys playing, dancing, and singing with her 4-year old kiddo, and finding local adventures with her wife and teenage stepson.
Renee Kurtz, MA, BC-DMT, LPC
Renee (she/her) currently lives in Lancaster, PA. She is a 2018 graduate from Drexel University. She loves working with little kiddos through adults, and currently works at an outpatient group practice offering dance therapy, integrated play and psychotherapy supporting a range of needs. Fun fact: making (and eating!) sourdough bread is one of her favorite forms of self-care.
Programming Co-Chairs
Job Description: Coordinate workshops, learning opportunities,
and Continuing Education for the PA ADTA membership and beyond.
Contact: paadta.programming@gmail.com
Government Affairs Liaison
Elizabeth McNamara, MA, BC-DMT, LPC, NCC
Elizabeth (she/her) graduated from Drexel's Creative Arts Therapy graduate program, and works in private practice with individuals and couples through life transitions, relationship issues, and trauma. She loves playing in nature, traveling, chocolate, and a dance floor.
Job Description: Resource regarding PA legislation, liaison with National GAC chairperson
Contact: paadta.governmentaffairs@gmail.com
Rayna Richardson, R-DMT, LAPC
Rayna Richardson is a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist and Licensed Associate Professional Counselor, and currently works as a school-based therapist at a charter school in Philadelphia. She received her Master of Arts in Dance/Movement Therapy & Counseling in 2025 from Drexel University. She also graduated summa cum laude from Howard University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Dance Arts. She is also a trained ballet, modern, and ballroom dancer, and currently trains at Philadanco. Rayna has found her biggest inspiration in the lit-up faces and sounds of joy from adolescents who can experience the gift of dance that belongs to us all.
Coral Torres, MA, BC-DMT
Coral graduated from Drexel's D/MT program in 2015. As a clinician at Children’s Crisis Treatment Center, she worked with children ages 2 ½- 5 years old with significant behavioral challenges and varying degrees of trauma. Coral went on to establish the first D/MT Program in the New Jersey VA Healthcare System, working with diverse Veteran/Military populations and issues such as geriatrics and sexual and combat-related trauma. In her current role as a Patient Advocate, Coral helps Veterans navigate the complexities of the system using a person-centered and collaborative approach. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Coral identifies as a Latina and is excited to join the board and to represent the Latinx D/MT community.
Nominating Committee C0-Chairs
Job Description: Prepare a slate of officers, accept nominations from
membership, prepare and distribute ballots
Contact: paadta.nominations@gmail.com
Multicultural & Diversity Committee C0-Liaisons
Job Description: Serve as a bridge to the Multicultural & Diversity Committee
Leadership Team, and the ADTA at large; facilitate connections and support for
traditionally underrepresented and culturally diverse members to encourage member recruitment and retention; support cultural competency of PA Chapter members
Contact: paadta.MDCLiaisons@gmail.com
Ja'Nae Green, MA, BC-DMT, LPC
Ja'Nae (she/her) is passionate about working with children, adolescents, and their families. She specializes in supporting individuals on the autism spectrum, with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and navigating life transitions. Outside of her professional life, she thrives on being outdoors, indulging in delicious food, cherishing moments with loved ones, and embarking on memorable vacations.
Jordyn Savage, MA, BC-DMT, LPC
Jordyn Savage (she/her) graduated from Drexel’s D/MT program in 2019. Since graduating she has primarily worked with children diagnosed with ASD, adolescents and their families. Jordyn currently works at an integrated health center and in private practice where she provides individual, family and group therapy to children and adults. In practice, she aims to foster a space that provides clients with a sense of agency to be confident in exploring their full authentic selves through play, movement & connection. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, dancing, spending time with friends, exploring Philly, and reading.
Anna Gardiner
A Maryland native, Anna recently graduated from DeSales University in May of 2025 with a Bachelor’s in both Psychology and Dance. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Dance/ Movement Therapy and Counseling at Drexel University and is on track to graduate in June of 2027. Anna has witnessed firsthand how dance can provide a voice for people and strives to do the same in her work. In her free time, she enjoys continuing her dance training, reading, and baking.
Ayana Johnson
Ayana (she/her) is currently pursuing her MA in Dance/Movement Therapy & Counseling at Drexel University. A Philadelphia native, Ayana graduated from Spelman College with a BA in Psychology with a minor in Dance Performance & Choreography. The intersection of movement, creativity, and community care has long shaped her path toward becoming a culturally attuned dance/movement therapist.
Ayana has experience working with children, older adults, and community health populations, and she is particularly passionate about supporting individuals in reconnecting with their bodies as sources of healing, expression, and resilience. Ayana is dedicated to holistic, culturally informed therapeutic practices and hopes to foster deeper student engagement and connection within the DMT community across Pennsylvania.