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

Since 1970
Nancy C. King, Founder · Artistic Director at The King Centre

Founder · Artistic Director

Nancy C. King

Rider University · Hedgerow Dramatic School · 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 and education. Educated at Rider University and Hedgerow Dramatic School, Nancy is Artistic Director of the American Youth Dance Company and the American Jazz Dance Ensemble.

Faculty

18 teaching artists
Jessica Longo, KCK Director · AYDC Choreographer at The King Centre

KCK Director · AYDC Choreographer

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. Dedicated to achieving the highest standards across every level by consistently delivering high-quality instruction.

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Caitlin Abraham, Ballet Faculty at The King Centre

Ballet 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). National Tour: Chicago the Musical.

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Jaimie Bernstein, Ballet · Jazz · Acro Faculty at The King Centre

Ballet · Jazz · Acro Faculty

Jaimie Bernstein

ABT National Training Curriculum · Acrobatic Arts

Mrs. Bernstein specializes in ballet, jazz, acro, and flexibility training with extensive expertise in the Acrobatic Arts syllabus and the ABT National Training Curriculum.

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Molly Davison, Faculty at The King Centre

Faculty

Molly Davison

University of Oklahoma · The Thorn National Tour

Molly holds dual B.B.A. degrees in Marketing and Healthcare Business, with a minor in Dance History, from the University of Oklahoma.

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Scott Fowler, Master Class Faculty at The King Centre

Master Class Faculty

Scott Fowler

Broadway · New York City Ballet · Film & Television

Scott has performed on Broadway in six shows and two national tours, most memorably Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Swing, and Twyla Tharp's Movin' Out.

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Lauryn Garcia, Faculty at The King Centre

Faculty

Lauryn Garcia

Indian Hills HS Head Coach · Rutgers & UCF Dance Team · Award-Winning Choreographer

Based in New Jersey, Lauryn Garcia is a seasoned dance teacher, coach, adjudicator, and award-winning choreographer with over 15 years of experience in the dance industry.

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Livia Janjigian, Faculty · AYDC Choreographer at The King Centre

Faculty · AYDC Choreographer

Livia Janjigian

AYDC · Broadway Dance Center · Steps on Broadway

Livia has been dancing since she was 11 and became a member of the American Youth Dance Company at age 12, continuing on the competition team for 7 years.

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Patti Jewell, Faculty at The King Centre

Faculty

Patti Jewell

King Centre alumna · AYDC · Seton Hall University

Patti grew up training at the King Centre from the age of 7. She joined the American Youth Dance Company at the age of 9 and continued her training for the next 10 years, studying under Nancy King, Natalie King Smith, and Karyn Collins.

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Natalie King Smith, Faculty · Choreographer at The King Centre

Faculty · Choreographer

Natalie King Smith

Broadway · Radio City Rockette · Point Park College

Natalie attended Point Park College and has performed on Broadway in the Tony Award winning production 42nd Street, Carnivale, City Center's Anyone Can Whistle and Follies, and the Tribute to Frank Sinatra.

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Sydney Smith, Faculty at The King Centre

Faculty

Sydney Smith

Senior Miss Dancers Inc. 2027

Sydney Smith has trained at the King Centre since the beginning of her dance journey and continues to grow as an artist there today.

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Haley Lindstrom, Acro Faculty at The King Centre

Acro Faculty

Haley Lindstrom

AYDC Alumna · Montclair State Dance Team · Back-to-Back NDA National Champion

Haley has danced at the King Centre since she was five and was a proud member of the American Youth Dance Company for 11 years.

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Melissa Milano, Faculty at The King Centre

Faculty

Melissa Milano

Walt Disney World · Actors Equity · 25+ Years Teaching

After training with Dan Karaty, Lisa Danais, Mia Michaels, Doug Caldwell and Wade Robson, Melissa danced professionally at Walt Disney World and joined Actors' Equity.

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Sara Roveccio, Ballet · Tap · Jazz · Kinder at The King Centre

Ballet · Tap · Jazz · Kinder

Sara Roveccio

AYDC Alumna · Montclair State · NDA National Champion 2018

Growing up training at the King Centre, Sara developed a lifelong love for all styles of dance and continues that passion as a teacher today.

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Maddie Smith, Faculty at The King Centre

Faculty

Maddie Smith

Broadway · Matilda · The Greatest Showman

Maddie began her career at 8 years old under Julie Taymor in the Off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and went on to Broadway in Matilda the Musical.

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Josie Ugliono, Faculty · AYDC Choreographer at The King Centre

Faculty · AYDC Choreographer

Josie Ugliono

William Paterson University · AYDC Alumna

Josie has been dancing at the King Centre since she was 3 years old and became a member of the American Youth Dance Company at age 7.

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Tommy Wasiuta, Tap Faculty at The King Centre

Tap Faculty

Tommy Wasiuta

Dorrance Dance · NYU · Steps on Broadway · Joffrey Ballet School

Tommy has performed with Dorrance Dance, Michela Marino Lerman, Max Pollak, Luke Hickey and Elizabeth Burke.

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Lindsey Holohan, Faculty at The King Centre

Faculty

Lindsey Holohan

AYDC Alumna · Clemson University

Lindsey began dancing at the King Centre at age 5 and was a member of the American Youth Dance Company for 10 years.

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Madison Ostrander, Faculty at The King Centre

Faculty

Madison Ostrander

WVU Dance Team · Two-Time NDA National Champion

Madison began dancing at age three and joined the American Youth Dance Company at age eight.

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