“Dance on the Lawn” celebrates dance in New Jersey and aims to increase exposure to dance by bringing professional and emerging companies, plus students of dance from around New Jersey together in a community setting that is free and open to the public.  Since our inception in 2014 we have presented New Jersey School Performing Groups,  New Jersey Professional Companies including 10 Hairy Legs, Maurice Chestnut’s Dance Therapy, Freespace Dance and Carolyn Dorfman Dance, plus New York Professional Companies including Seán Curran Company, Janice Brenner and Dancers, works by Troy Powell (Artistic Director, Ailey II), Ballet Hispanico Dos, DanceGrandMoultrie,  Keigwin & Company and Stephen Petronio Company.  Additionally, each year we select and support an “Emerging Commissioned New Jersey Choreographer” with performance opportunities guided by a mentor.  Robert Mark Burke was chosen in 2015, Kyle Marshall in 2016, Lauren Connolly in 2017, Javier Padilla in 2018, Oluwadamilare ‘Dare’ Ayorinde in 2019, Amber Sloan in 2020/2021, and William Ervin in 2022.  Laura Marchese served as Managing Director for 9 years.  Charmaine Warren is the guiding force behind “Dance on the Lawn: Montclair’s Dance Festival.”