Dance on the Lawn returns with live shows in September

The Dance on the Lawn outdoor dance festival will return with live performances on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 South Fullerton Ave. The 2021 festival will also be live streamed on DOTL’s virtual channels, Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook. The festival took place virtually last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrating its eighth year, Dance on the Lawn is a premiere showcase and mentoring launchpad for New Jersey and New York choreographers. It offers Montclair residents and neighboring communities a sneak peek at emerging and established artists from New Jersey and the New York area.

The free performances this year will include Dance on the Lawn emerging commissioned NJ choreographer Amber Sloan, New York company 277 Dance Project, and New Jersey companies Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company and Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.

Founded by Montclair resident Charmaine Warren in 2014, Dance on the Lawn hopes 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.

The full lineup is below:

NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS

Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts
DanceWorks & Co.
Movement Arts Project/Dance for Joy
Maurice Chestnut + Movement Therapy

NEW JERSEY COMPANIES

Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
Inimois Dance

DOTL’S EMERGING COMMISSIONED NEW JERSEY CHOREOGRAPHER

Amber Sloan

NEW YORK COMPANY

277 Dance Project - Nicole Philippidis