Knicks dancer working as a nurse on front lines of the pandemic

May 11, 2020

New Jersey native Tara Rappleyea has traded in performances on the sidelines of The World’s Most Famous Arena to battles on the front lines in her hometown.

“It’s been pretty emotional, honestly. I feel like it’s a rollercoaster,” Rappleyea told PIX 11News. “Some days I feel excited, hopeful and happy and some days I feel sad, confused and angry to why all this is happening.”

It’s been exactly two months since Rappleyea was joining her fellow New York Knicks City Dancers at Madison Square Garden. She’s been a member of the glamorous group since 2016.

The Rutgers (Public Health, 2015) graduate is no longer displaying her moves in front of thousands on Broadway, but instead helping millions as a nurse at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital Somerset in New Jersey.

WPIX11.com, May 8, 2020

Recent Posts

Heldrich Center: Updated Multi-State Postsecondary Report Released

The Heldrich Center for Workforce Development has announced the release of an updated Multi-State Postsecondary Report, linking postsecondary completion data to employment outcomes across Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia. This effort...

Cantor, Yedidia Identify Strategies to Provide Health Care to Homeless

Through cooperation, homeless services and health care providers can improve delivery of medical care to a vulnerable population, according to Rutgers researchers published by Rutgers Today, December 17, 2025 Author: Greg Bruno Media Contact: Nicole Swenarton, Rutgers...

“Work Trends RU” Podcast with Beth Simone Noveck, Ph.D.

Beth Simone Noveck, Ph.D., Chief AI Strategist for the State of New Jersey, Guests on Work Trends RU Podcast Listen to the latest episode of the Heldrich Center’s “Work Trends RU” podcast, featuring Beth Simone Noveck, Ph.D., Chief AI Strategist for the State of New...

Prof. Andrews Interviewed About New Jersey’s Propane Emergency

RINGWOOD, N.J. (PIX11) — It’s a phrase that brings to mind natural disasters, like hurricanes or blizzards, but a state of emergency has now gone into effect in New Jersey over propane deliveries. As is the case in most natural disasters, this state of emergency...