Montclair's First Annual Free Outdoor Dance Concert

Montclair will present the first annual free outdoor dance concert, “Dance on the Lawn” at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (73 S. Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ) and boasts a diverse group of artists from New York, state-wide from New Jersey, and some of Montclair’s own.

New York companies include: Seán Curran Company and Brice Mousset’s Oui Danse;

New Jersey companies include: Maurice Chestnut (Newark), Donna Scro’s Freespace Dance (Montclair), Randy James’ 10 Hairy Legs (Highland Park), Nancy Turano’s New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble (Madison), Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts’ Performance Workshop Ensemble (SMAPA/PWE- Montclair), and Kathy Costa’s DanceWorks & Company (Montclair). Montclair resident, Charmaine Warren is the producer/artistic director.

This event is co-sponsored by Toni’s Kitchen, Studio042 and Imani.

Attendees are encouraged to bring your lawn chairs, blankets, the family and share in the fun!

About the Producer/Artistic Director:

Charmaine Warren, Ph.D. is a performer, historian, lecturer, consultant, dance writer and yoga instructor. She is a faculty member at Hunter College, Kean University, Empire State College’s online program Center for Distance Learning and The Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program. She is a former faculty member of The Ailey School and the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University dance major program. She curates dance for Harlem Stage’s dance series, EMoves and The Wassaic Project Festival.

About The Companies:

• Seán Curran Company - Since it burst onto the dance scene in 1997, Curran is known for his wit, intelligence, ingenuity, uncanny physical humor, and how he successfully blends a myriad of influences into a purely original style. The company’s first major commission came in 1997 from Celebrate Brooklyn for the piece Folk Dance For the Future. Folk Dance for the Future marked the beginning of Curran’s incorporation of his Irish background into his choreographic works. A 1999 National Dance Project commission by the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival gave the company national prominence.

• Brice Mousset’s Oui Danse - Brice Mousset’s contemporary project based dance company, OUI DANSE, was founded in 2013. OUI DANSE not only presents dance which pushes the limits of physicality, imagination and artistry, it also places on stage human beings with their real struggles, raw emotions, strength and flaws, for all to view and self-identify. Mousset’s Oui Danse recently received a standing ovation at Jacob’s Pillow and The Ailey CitiGroup Theater.

• Maurice Chestnut – The Newark-born, original member of the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble has appeared with the Geri Allen trio, and has performed with Savion Glover in Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk, Classical Savion, and on “ABC-TV’s Dancing With The Stars.” Chestnut introduces tap as an instrument, fusing his classical rhythm tap training with hip-hop, funk and soul. Currently, Chestnut is fusing tap as a live instrument in a band, and touring with “Can I Hit That”.

• Donna Scro’s Freespace Dance – is a contemporary modern dance company renowned for creating emotionally driven work with a bold athletic signature style. Comprised of exceptionally strong performers, this vibrant company uses controlled abandonment in pushing the limits of inventive partnering. Artistic Director, Donna Scro, a former principal dancer with the Nikolais/Louis Dance Company and a founding member of Sean Curran Company.

• Randy James’ 10 Hairy Legs - Founded by in 2012, the company is comprised entirely of men. 10 Hairy Legs does not reflect a specific point of view about the male experience, but rather celebrates and explores the tremendous technical and emotional range of the male dancer. Artistic Director James is the driving force of 10 Hairy Legs and has been awarded his third Choreographic Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Company members are currently featured artists with The Bang Group, Stephen Petronio Company, Doug Elkins, among others.

• Nancy Turano’s New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble (NJDTE)- Founded in 1969 under the direction of ballet master, Alfredo Corvino, and now led by Artistic Director Nancy Turano since 1994, the Ensemble dancers are offered a pre-professional curriculum and repertoire that enables them to meet the challenges of today’s professional dance world. The Ensemble has presented works by Twyla Tharp, David Parsons, Robert Battle, Sidra Bell, and Turano to name a few.

• Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts’ (SMAPA) Performance Workshop Ensemble (PWE) – Under the direction of Executive Director, Sharron Miller, the PWE is made up of 10–15 gifted and talented young dancers between the ages of 12 and 20. In return for full tuition scholarships, PWE members give to the community through arts in education concerts. PWE have presented works in and around neighborhood community centers, schools and holds an annual concert presenting works by professionals in the field.

• Kathy Costa’s DanceWorks & Company - is a dance company which thrives on an eclectic program so that each dancer is provided with a challenging and rewarding experience. They train in all genres, work with professional choreographers and experiment with their own choreography. DanceWorks & Co. have presented works at Lincoln Center, Dance New Jersey, Broadway Dance Center, 1st Montclair House and other venues throughout Essex County.