About the Festival

For nearly a decade, Dance on the Lawn was Montclair, New Jersey’s premier free outdoor dance festival, bringing together professional and emerging dancers from across the region. Founded in 2014 by Charmaine Warren, the festival aimed to increase exposure to dance, support New Jersey-based artists, and build a strong sense of community through movement.

Each year, Dance on the Lawn showcased a diverse lineup of performers, featuring both renowned New York-based dance companies and New Jersey’s rising stars. The festival also served as a mentorship platform by commissioning an Emerging NJ Choreographer, providing performance opportunities and professional guidance to the next generation of artists.

Over its ten-year run, Dance on the Lawn became a beloved tradition, drawing thousands of attendees who gathered on the lawn of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair to celebrate the art of dance in a welcoming and inspiring setting.

Although 2023 marked the final year of the festival, its legacy lives on, celebrating the power of dance to connect, inspire, and uplift communities. This archive honors those who performed, attended, and supported Dance on the Lawn, ensuring that its impact continues for years to come.