Montclair, NJ has been a long-standing cultural hub in the tri-state area. Culturally and artistically, Montclair stands apart. This rich backdrop set the stage for the founding of the Montclair Jazz Festival in 2010 and the Montclair Film Festival in 2012. Today, both of these annual events have grown and flourished and become destinations for a broad audience.

It is within this great artistic tradition that we announce the first MONTCLAIR DANCE FESTIVAL, to be produced by Freespace Dance Inc.

Freespace Dance, under the artistic direction of Donna Scro Samori and the managing direction of Lisa Grimes Arndt, will bring its 21-year history as a professional dance company and NJ arts education leader to the development of the festival. In recognition of their unique ability to curate and produce this project, FSD has received a $25,000 Special Project Grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. This matching grant challenges the founders to raise an additional $25,000 within the next four months to demonstrate a clear commitment to the festival's viability.

We would love your financial support. Our dreams for the festival are far-reaching, but today our goal is simple - raise the matching funds we need, with contributions large and small, to bring the first Montclair Dance Festival to life.

Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre