Rena Kornblum

Rena Kornblum is a Senior Lecturer in the Dance Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Director of the Dance-Movement Therapy Certificate Program. She holds licensure in Wisconsin for psychotherapy via expressive arts therapies and has over 40 years of professional experience. Her roles include advising the undergraduate certificate program and leading the Hancock Center for Dance/Movement Therapy's Children and Family Program as former Executive Director.

Education:

• MCAT Creative Arts Therapy, Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital (1978)
• Graduate Certificate in Dance Education, Goldsmith College, University of London (1975)
• BA in Group Dynamics and Psychology, SUNY at Stony Brook (1973)

Research Interests: Kornblum focuses on violence prevention through embodied social skills, trauma-informed dance/movement therapy for children, and family therapy. She developed the Disarming the Playground curriculum, which emphasizes pro-social skill development and movement-based interventions to reduce violence. Her work integrates somatic practices with mental health strategies, particularly in school settings.

Awards:

• 2009 Excellence in Education Award (American Dance Therapy Association)
• 2013 Unsung Hero Award (National Alliance in Mental Illness)
• Multiple teaching awards from UW-Madison (2018, 2016, 2014)

Advising & Global Impact: Kornblum advises UW-Madison's Dance/Movement Therapy program and trains professionals globally via workshops in Argentina, Korea, China, and elsewhere. She has pioneered embodied violence prevention programs used in Madison public schools and authored influential publications like Disarming the Playground (2003).

Labs/Teams: She leads the Hancock Center's Children and Family Program and collaborates with organizations like the United Way of Dane County and Attic Angels to implement trauma-sensitive movement therapies.