Resume
Current
Engagements
Since 2024
Doctoral Candidate
I am currently pursuing my PhD in Gerontology at the Network of Ageing Research at the University of Heidelberg. The aim of the PhD Project TRIALOG is to develop and assess and dance movement therapy intervention to improve quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers.
Since 2023
Research Assistant
Increasing research in dance movement therapy is fundamental in helping us understand the processes between movement, the self and health. As a research assistant as the Research Institute for Creative Arts Therapies (RIArT) at the Alanus University I support ongoing research.
Since 2021
Mindful movement coach
I am active as a mindful movement coach on the innovative platform moveinu.com, that aims to make approaches of dance movement therapy more accessible as a preventative experience.
2022 -
2024
Dance Movement Therapist
I led group dance therapy sessions at the prestigious Marion von Tessin Memory Center in Munich for people with dementia.
2022 -
2023
Body Therapist
At the KIRINUS psychosomatic outpatient center, I conducted group and individual body therapy sessions.
2022
Dance movement therapist
I had the pleasure of working in the international project 'caravan of memory' that applies a therapeutic tango method for improve the physical health as well as quality of life for people with Alzheimer's disease. Together with an amazing musician, I 'toured' various places in the west of France.
2020
Student Assistant
At the Heidelberg Center for the Environment I worked in video editing, as well as creating educational videos on the projects of the HCE.
2020
Student Assistant
At the Global Health Institute I co-organised the public lecture and seminar series that discussed headline global health issues with experts in the field. My task was to advertise and organise the event, manage the discussion as well as summarise the key points to be uploaded on the website.
Past
Work
Experience
Academic
Education
2019 - 2021
SRH Heidelberg University | Master’s Degree
Dance Movement Therapy
2016 - 2019
University of Heidelberg | Master's Degree
Health and Society in South Asia (medical anthropology)
2013 - 2016
University of Sussex | Bachelor's Degree
Anthropology and International Development
Body Music
As a dance movement therapist I have become increasingly intersted in body percussion and body music as a way to incorporate the music our body can produce within the therapy. The music therapists Uwe Loda and Martina Baumann have written a book and developed a training course 'Body Music and Body Songs in Music- and Psychotherapy, Pedagogy and Palliative Care' which I completed in 2026. ​​
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The Moving Cycle ​
The Moving Cycle is a body-centered psychotherapy approach developed by Christine Caldwell. The method follows four main stages: awareness, owning, appreciation, and action, which help people become conscious of their bodily sensations, express them through movement, integrate their experiences, and apply them to daily life. Overall, the Moving Cycle connects body and mind, encouraging self-healing, creativity, and emotional understanding through conscious movement. I completed the four-phase cetrification to be a Moving Cycle Practitioner with Christine Caldwell in 2024.
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Heilpraktiker für Psychotherapie ​
This additional examination by the Health Department Munich (2023) allows me to take on individual clients in my own praxis.
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The Body Mind Approach ​
The Body Mind Approach is an innovative group intervention developed by Helen Payne, to support people with medically unexplained symptoms manage and live with these. I completed the online four-part training with Helen Payne in 2022. Watch Helen introduce the approach on TEDTalk: Thriving in Uncertainty: The BodyMind Approach
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Therapeutic Tango​
Therapeutic Tango approach by Angela Nicotra (2021)
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Dance for PD​
Dance for PD is an incredible platform and movement, offering dance for people with Parkinson's Disease developed by David Leventhal. I am planning to complete my teacher certification, which I am still undergoing.
Further Trainings and Qualifications
Publications
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Cornaro, C., Bulian, M., & Teichmann, B. (2026). Validation of the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy in the German population. Innovation in Aging, 10(4), igag016.
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Cornaro, C., & Koch, S. C. (2024). Dance movement therapy and dance interventions for people living with dementia: a PRISMA scoping review on health and well-being outcomes, assessments, and interventions.
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2023: Tango-Therapy Intervention for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment Living in Nursing Homes: Effects on Quality of Life, Physical Abilities and Gait. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 20(4): 3521. (with Bracco L., Pinto-Carral A., Koch S. & Mourey F.)
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2023: ’Personsein durch Tanz und Bewegung’ demenz.Das Magazin. 57: 26-29.
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2022: The impact of dance movement interventions on psychological health in older adults without dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Doi. 10.1101/2022.11.25.22282727. (with Podolski, O., Whitfield, T., Schaaf, L., Köbe, T., Koch, S., & Wirth, M.)
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Fluent: German and English
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Advanced: French and Spanish
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Beginner: Italian and Hindi