Dr. Tortora trains allied professionals and lectures about her work locally and nationally at professional meetings and in universities. She is currently writing a book for Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company, and has published articles in several journals. Copies of these references and upcoming lectures can be viewed in the "Current News & Upcoming Events" section of this web site.

Dr. Tortora received a B.A. with honors in Child Study, along with teaching certification (K-8 and special needs preschool to 7 years), from Tufts University. She received her M.A. degree in dance therapy at New York University. Dr. Tortora received her doctorate in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in infancy development from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is an ADTR, which is the advanced level accreditation certification of the American Dance Therapy Association. She is also a Certified Laban Movement Analyst (CMA); a Kestenberg Movement Profiler (KMP); has studied Body-Mind Centering with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen; authentic movement with Janet Adler, anatomy, kinesiology and ideokinesis with Irene Dowd; and received certification in Yoga for the Special Child with Sonia Sumar. Her postgraduate continued professional education courses include Dr. Greenspan's Infancy and Early Childhood Intervention training course, and numerous Zero-to-Three Training Institutes.

Dr. Tortora's own movement studies include gymnastics, ballet, several modern dance and improvisational techniques, Japanese Folk and Kabuki dance styles as well as social, contra and ballroom dancing.

In addition to her current private practice work Dr. Tortora is creating a dance therapy program on the pediatric ward of Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Center working with children ages 2 months to 32 years old. See www.theandrearizzodancetherapyfoundation.com for details about this program and to make any donations to this foundation.