I would like to extend my Congratulations to Dr. Ryu Boon Soon for twenty years of Excellence in developing and creating the Korean Dance Therapy Association (KDTA) and her training Program. It is with all of my deeply felt respect and heart that I honor and celebrate Boon Soon’s establishment of an exceptional Dance/movement therapy program. She is a pioneer who has developed a unique global approach in her laying down the foundation for all of the students who have been trained in the KDTA dance/movement therapy program. Dr. Ryu’s visionary, intuitive, and highly proficient skills wove together a strong foundation for her students. She developed the KDTA and established global connections and relationships with other dance/movement therapy pioneers, experts, consultants, and teachers from the US, and other countries who had done training programs, and or who had particular skills that would increase her students’ knowledge and practice.

When I traveled to Korea in 2008 to teach “Peace through Dance/movement therapy” for the KDTA, I was profoundly touched and forever changed after having the opportunity to work with a group of remarkable Korean dance therapy students during my workshop time spent in Korea. Boon Soon graciously introduced me to learn about the Korean Culture and way of being prior to my teaching by taking me to different sights and experiences which captured a feeling and essence of the beautiful Korean traditions and harmonious way of being.

Thank you Boon Soon for envisioning and creating a beautiful and powerfully effective Dance Therapy Program in Korea for the past twenty years and for creating the International Dance Therapy Conference in Korea in 2013 which serves as an exemplary extension of your successful creation of the Korean Dance Therapy Association moving Dance/movement therapists into the 21’st Century. Dr. Ryu’s visionary approach in holding this conference is building a Global bridge for dance/movement therapists to learn about working with and in different cultures. It is a precious gift that you are providing dance/movement therapists’ from all over the world with an opportunity to meet, connect, learn from and with one another and to unite with a most powerful voice for then having an impact of creating harmony, healing, connection and change in the world.

Lynn Koshland BC-DMT, LCSW