The King Centre for the Performing Arts
About

A school built on legacy.

For over fifty years, The King Centre has trained dancers who have gone on to Broadway stages, national tours, professional companies, and university programs across the country. What hasn't changed is the room itself: faculty who know every student by name, parents who became colleagues, and a culture that puts artistry before applause.

Students and families come to us from across the tri-state area for the same reasons they did in 1970 — personal attention, a serious curriculum, and a stage that prepares them for whatever comes next.

Founder & Faculty

Leadership
Nancy C. King — Founder · Artistic Director

Founder · Artistic Director

Nancy C. King

Broadway · Radio City Rockettes · Dance Masters of America

Founder and Artistic Director of The King Centre for the Performing Arts and the New Jersey Foundation for Dance and Theatre Arts — a 501(c)(3) established to advance the performing arts. Educated at Rider University and Hedgerow Dramatic School, Nancy founded the King Centre in 1970. Her students have gone on to Broadway, film, television, national tours, and the Radio City Rockettes. Recipient of the Woman of the Year Award, the Excellence in Dance Award (Dance Teacher Magazine), and the Arts and Humanities Award.

Full profile
Jessica Longo — KCK Director

KCK Director

Jessica Longo

Ballet · Tap · Jazz · Kinder · Acro

An energetic and enthusiastic dance teacher with extensive experience across ballet, jazz, lyrical, acrobatics, contemporary, musical theater, and tap — all age groups, all levels. Trained in advanced ballet, pointe, jazz, acro, lyrical, musical theater, and tap. A principal dancer from age 11 earning numerous solo titles, Jessica is a teacher and choreographer recognized with high-score awards for the competitive routines she has staged.

Full profile
Jared Alexander — Tap Faculty

Tap Faculty

Jared Alexander

Pace BFA · Caleb Teicher & Co. · American Tap Dance Foundation

Jared began dancing at age three, starting with tap. He graduated from Pace University NYC with a BFA in Commercial Dance in 2019 and is the creator of Capture The Tap, an art installation project. Signed with MSA Talent Agency and EMC, Jared is a company member of Caleb Teicher & Co., The Dolo Project, and Project Convergence, and an Artist in Residence at the American Tap Dance Foundation. He currently resides in NYC.

Full profile
Caitlin Abraham — Faculty

Faculty

Caitlin Abraham

Broadway · Carolina Ballet · Fosse Workshop

Broadway credits include An American in Paris (Dir/Chor Christopher Wheeldon) and La Cage aux Folles (Dir. Terry Johnson), plus the national tour of Chicago the Musical. Other favorites: An American in Paris at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and On The Town at Paper Mill Playhouse. Before musical theater, Caitlin was a Soloist at Carolina Ballet — performing roles by Balanchine, Robbins, Limón, and Taylor-Corbett — and now teaches at the Ailey Extension, Joffrey Ballet School, and NYC Dance Alliance.

Full profile