American Dance Therapy Association
The American Dance Therapy Association, founded in 1966 and headquartered in Albany, New York, is the sole U.S. professional membership organization for dance/movement therapists. It provides R-DMT and BC-DMT credentialing, continuing education, conferences, and the peer-reviewed American Journal of Dance Therapy to credentialed practitioners, students, and institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersAlbany, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What American Dance Therapy Association does
The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), founded in 1966 and headquartered in Albany, New York, is the only U.S. professional membership organization solely dedicated to dance/movement therapy (DMT). It serves credentialed practitioners, students, institutions, and the public through a vertically integrated offering: it owns the R-DMT and BC-DMT service marks (leased to the separate Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board established in 2009), approves graduate and alternate-route training programs, administers continuing education, and publishes the peer-reviewed American Journal of Dance Therapy in partnership with Springer. The affiliated Marian Chace Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) supports research grants and journalism awards.
ADTA is organized as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by 1-10 staff at its national office. Its technology stack is operationally focused: a MemberClicks-based Member Center for membership and credential transactions, a Prolydian-powered DMTCB application portal for BC-DMT candidates, an LMS-based CE Center, a job board platform, and a public Find a DMT directory. Marketing channels include the journal, quarterly newsletters, the annual in-person conference (61st edition scheduled for Long Beach, California, November 2026), Virtual Spring Summits, on-demand webinars, and social profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
Revenue is generated through multiple recurring and transactional streams. Membership dues range from $42.50 (student, first-year professional) to $350 (institutional), with sliding-scale options for international members. Credential maintenance fees range from $30 (temporarily inactive) to $275 (BC-DMT non-member full practice), with recertification every five years. Conference and webinar registrations, on-demand CE content, and freemium job board postings for non-members add incremental revenue. No outside equity, venture, or parent-company ownership has been identified; the organization is independent and member-supported.
American Dance Therapy Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Dance Therapy Association
- Legal name
- American Dance Therapy Association
- Website
- https://adta.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The American Dance Therapy Association, founded in 1966 and headquartered in Albany, New York, is the sole U.S. professional membership organization for dance/movement therapists. It provides R-DMT and BC-DMT credentialing, continuing education, conferences, and the peer-reviewed American Journal of Dance Therapy to credentialed practitioners, students, and institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Dance Therapy Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Credentialing Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sensory Integration Therapy (Ayres SI) (EDAKAFAB)
Keywords
Where American Dance Therapy Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albany
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Dance Therapy Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from professionals, associates, students, retired members, and institutions. Fees range from $42.50 (student) to $350 (institutional). Members receive benefits including conference discounts, journal access, newsletters, and member directory access.
- Credential Maintenance and Recertification: Annual credential renewal fees for R-DMT ($190 ADTA member / $240 non-member) and BC-DMT ($215 ADTA member / $275 non-member) credentials, plus recertification fees every 5 years. Reduced practice, temporary inactive, and retired status options available at lower fees.
- Conference Registration: Revenue from annual conference registrations including member, non-member, and student pricing tiers. On-demand access to recorded conference content also available for purchase for CE credit.
- Webinars and Continuing Education: Live and on-demand webinar continuing education offerings for credential maintenance. Many workshops eligible for NBCC credits and NY LCAT CE hours.
- Job Board: Free job postings for members, affordable paid postings for non-members targeting the dance/movement therapy professional community.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Professional Membership - Standard active members with full voting privileges |
| Subscription | Annual | New Professional Member - First year of professional service as R-DMT |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Membership - For supporters of dance/movement therapy |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Membership - High school, undergraduate, and graduate students |
| Subscription | Annual | Retired Membership - Members 65+ or medically disabled with 5+ years membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Institutional Membership - Organizations, schools, foundations |
| Subscription | Annual | R-DMT Credential Maintenance - Full Practice |
| Subscription | Annual | R-DMT Credential Maintenance - Reduced Practice (10 hrs/week or less) |
| Subscription | Annual | BC-DMT Credential Maintenance - Full Practice |
| Subscription | Annual | BC-DMT Credential Maintenance - Reduced Practice |
| Subscription | Annual | Credential Maintenance - Temporarily Inactive Status |
| Subscription | Annual | Credential Maintenance - Retired Status |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Annual Conference - On-Demand Access |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Spring Conference - Virtual Day Event |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
American Dance Therapy Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The American Dance Therapy Association is the national professional membership association for dance/movement therapists. It establishes and maintains professional standards for the field, owns the R-DMT and BC-DMT credential service marks, and delivers continuing education, annual conferences, publications, and member services to credentialed dance/movement therapists, students, and allied professionals in the United States and internationally.
Product overview
The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) operates as a professional membership organization rather than a software product company. Its core offerings include professional credentialing services through the Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board (DMTCB) for R-DMT and BC-DMT credentials, continuing education via the CE Center, webinars, and annual conferences (both in-person and virtual). The ADTA also publishes the American Journal of Dance Therapy, operates a member portal with directory and job board services, and supports the Marian Chace Foundation nonprofit. Key products include credentials (R-DMT, BC-DMT), education events (Annual Conference, Virtual Spring Summit, Webinars), publications (AJDT), and member services (Member Center, Find a DMT directory). The DMTCB manages credentialing and recertification, while the Marian Chace Foundation supports research and education through grants and publications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ADTA: The primary acronym/abbreviation used for the American Dance Therapy Association in all communications and branding.
Products and services
- R-DMT Credential (Registered Dance/Movement Therapist) Entry-level professional credential acknowledging basic competence in dance/movement therapy through completion of education and training requirements, signifying preparedness for employment in clinical and/or educational settings. Issued by the Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board (DMTCB).
- BC-DMT Credential (Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist) Advanced-level professional credential attained through a formal written examination process, indicating higher competence legally, professionally, and in relationship to the public. Required for teaching, supervising, and advising DMT students.
- ADTA Annual Conference Annual national conference providing continuing education, networking, and scholarly advancement for dance/movement therapists, featuring workshops, poster sessions, and presentations with NBCC and NY LCAT CE eligibility.
- Virtual Spring Summit Annual virtual spring conference offering continuing education and community engagement for dance/movement therapists, with member, student, and non-member pricing tiers.
- Webinars Live and on-demand continuing education offerings for dance/movement therapists to maintain credentials, with many webinars eligible for NBCC and NY LCAT CE hours.
- American Journal of Dance Therapy Official peer-reviewed journal of the ADTA, publishing research and scholarly articles on dance/movement therapy, distributed via Springer Publishers.
- CE Center (Continuing Education Center) Online learning management system for pursuing continuing education, tracking CE hours, and accessing professional development courses for dance/movement therapists.
- ADTA Member Center Online portal providing members access to member directory, renewal forms, profile management, event calendar, American Journal of Dance Therapy access, newsletters, and credential cards.
- ADTA Alternate Route Training Self-directed course of study for the R-DMT credential for individuals who did not graduate from ADTA-approved programs, including coursework, fieldwork, and supervised internship.
Companies that use American Dance Therapy Association
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
American Dance Therapy Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
American Dance Therapy Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- National Alliance of Pupil Service OrganizationsminorADTA affiliates with this organization to expand advocacy reach and professional connections for dance/movement therapists working in educational settings
- Consortium for Citizens with DisabilitiesminorADTA partners with this coalition to advocate for individuals with disabilities and increase visibility of DMT services in disability services
- National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies AssociationscoreADTA collaborates with other creative arts therapy associations to advance shared professional interests and coordinate on legislative and regulatory matters
- National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)coreNBCC approves ADTA as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 5739), allowing ADTA to offer NBCC-approved clock hours for continuing education events
- Americans for the ArtsminorADTA affiliates to connect with broader arts advocacy efforts and increase visibility of dance/movement therapy in arts communities
- American Association of State Counseling BoardsminorADTA collaborates with state counseling boards to support recognition and regulation of dance/movement therapy credentials
- Marian Chace Foundationcore501(c)(3) nonprofit established by ADTA to further educational, scientific, literary and artistic development of dance/movement therapy through grants, publications, lecture series, and research support. Functions separately from ADTA.
- Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board (DMTCB)coreDMTCB is a 501(c)(6) corporation established in 2009 to regulate R-DMT and BC-DMT credentials. The service marks R-DMT and BC-DMT are owned by ADTA and leased to DMTCB for conferral and management.
- Springer PublisherscoreThe American Journal of Dance Therapy is edited by ADTA volunteers in conjunction with Springer Publishers for journal publication and distribution
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
American Dance Therapy Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Dance/USA: National service organization for professional dance, supporting dance companies, presenters, and educators across the broader dance sector. Adjacent to ADTA but serves the performance/choreographic dance field rather than therapeutic practice.
- National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Credentialing and continuing-education oversight organization that formally approves ADTA as an ACEP provider. Functions as a regulatory/administrative peer in the credentialing ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): Large established professional membership organization for occupational therapists with OTR credential, CE, and advocacy. Comparable in professional-association mechanics to ADTA but at much greater scale in the adjacent therapy discipline that frequently uses movement-based intervention.
- American Counseling Association (ACA): Major professional membership body for counselors offering credentials, CE, publications, and conferences. Operationally similar to ADTA but broader in scope; relevant given many DMTs hold dual credentials in counseling.
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA): Largest U.S. professional organization for physical therapists with extensive CE, advocacy, and credentialing infrastructure. Shares therapeutic-movement orientation and association business model with ADTA, but at substantially larger scale.
Direct peers
- American Music Therapy Association (AMTA): Sister creative arts therapy professional membership organization serving music therapists with MT-BC credential, annual conference, and continuing education. Closely comparable to ADTA in mission, membership model, and revenue mix; co-member of the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations.
- International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA): Professional association for expressive arts therapists and educators offering REAT credential, conferences, and certification. Overlaps with ADTA on multi-modal creative arts therapy practice and serves as a parallel credentialing body for practitioners integrating movement with other art forms.
- North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA): Fourth sister creative arts therapy professional membership organization, credentialing Registered Drama Therapists (RDT) and providing CE, conferences, and publications. Direct functional analog to ADTA in the drama therapy vertical.
- American Art Therapy Association (AATA): Sister creative arts therapy professional membership organization. AATA provides credentialing (ATR, ATR-BC), continuing education, conferences, and publications for art therapists — structurally and operationally near-identical to ADTA's model in the dance/movement therapy vertical.
Emerging players
- International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS): Membership organization bridging dance and healthcare with research, education, and resources for dance medicine and science professionals. Intersects ADTA at the dance-health boundary but focuses on biomechanics/injury rather than psychotherapeutic use of movement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Dance Therapy Association social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Dance Therapy Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
American Dance Therapy Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Dance Therapy Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
American Dance Therapy Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Dance Therapy Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Dance Therapy Association
What does American Dance Therapy Association do?
The American Dance Therapy Association is the national professional membership association for dance/movement therapists. It establishes and maintains professional standards for the field, owns the R-DMT and BC-DMT credential service marks, and delivers continuing education, annual conferences, publications, and member services to credentialed dance/movement therapists, students, and allied professionals in the United States and internationally.
Is American Dance Therapy Association a public or private company?
American Dance Therapy Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Dance Therapy Association founded?
American Dance Therapy Association was founded in 1966. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is American Dance Therapy Association based?
American Dance Therapy Association is headquartered in Albany, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Dance Therapy Association make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Professional Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are credential Maintenance and Recertification, conference Registration, webinars and Continuing Education and job Board.
Who are American Dance Therapy Association's main competitors?
Others on record are Dance/USA and National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Broad incumbents are American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), American Counseling Association (ACA) and American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Direct peers are American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA), North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) and American Art Therapy Association (AATA). International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) is listed as an emerging player.
Does American Dance Therapy Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Dance Therapy Association.
What industry is American Dance Therapy Association in?
American Dance Therapy Association's product category is Professional Credentialing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAFAB, Sensory Integration Therapy (Ayres SI). Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.