Dance On The Lawn, Montclair's Dance Festival Returns For 10th and Final Year

 Dance on the Lawn, Montclair, NJ’s outdoor dance festival, will return for its tenth and final year, "Celebrating New Jersey." The Festival’s 2023 finale will take place on on Saturday, September 9 on the front lawn of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ, from 3- 5pm. The Dance on the Lawn Festival is free.

Live performances will include acclaimed tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith, Nai-Ni Chen and Company, Maxine Steinman & Dancers, Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts and more. Also included in this year’s program will be the return of five of the six winners of the yearly Dance on the Lawn “Emerging Commissioned NJ Choreographer” award.

For ten years, Dance on the Lawn served as a showcase and mentoring launchpad for NJ and NY’s finest choreographic talent. The yearly DOTL Festival offered Montclair residents and neighboring communities a sneak peek at emerging and established artists from New Jersey and the New York area.

Founded by Montclair resident Charmaine Warren in 2014, Dance on the Lawn hoped to increase New Jersey’s exposure to dance by bringing professional and emerging companies, plus students of dance from around the state, together to perform in a community setting. In addition to offering presentation opportunities, Dance on the Lawn created an “Emerging Commissioned New Jersey Choreographer” and mentor program to help support young, emerging artists.

“We have been fortunate to have had such a long and good run. As a dancer, teacher, writer and producer, my work has always been in New York City. However, I grew up and still live in New Jersey, and always hoped I could somehow bring the two together. Our mission was accomplished! For our final DOTL Festival we are delighted to celebrate the many talented New Jersey artists the state has to offer,” said Charmaine Warren, Founder and Artistic Director of Dance on the Lawn.