Bill
SD 2165
The bill would create a governor-appointed, honorary choreographer laureate to oversee dance performances at major state events and advance Massachusetts’ dance arts.
Overview
- Purpose: Create an honorary, statewide position—the choreographer laureate of the Commonwealth—to promote participation in the arts, elevate Massachusetts’ dance legacy, and choreograph performances for important state events and ceremonies.
- Status: Proposed bill (introduced in the 2025-2026 General Court). Bill text envisions a new Section 64 within Chapter 2 of the General Laws.
What the bill would do
- Establishment of a governor-appointed choreographer laureate
- The governor would appoint a resident of Massachusetts to serve as the choreographer laureate for a 4-year term, with eligibility for a second term.
- The laureate is an honorary position with no Commonwealth remuneration and no official state employee status, but with capped expense reimbursement.
- The laureate would oversee performances for major state events and contribute to the state’s arts landscape, especially in dance.
Key provisions and structure
- Nominating committee
- A five-member choreographer laureate nominating committee would be created:
- Chair: executive director or designee of the Massachusetts Cultural Council
- Executive/ artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc., or designee
- Executive artistic director of The Dance Complex, or designee
- Executive director of The Yard, or designee
- A member of the Boston Ballet chosen by the chair
- Members serve without compensation.
- Nomination process
- At least 5 months before the current laureate’s term ends, the committee conducts culturally competent, linguistically diverse outreach and accepts nominations (including self-nominations).
- Nominees must be Massachusetts residents with a record of choreographic work.
- The committee reviews nominations and selects 3 finalists based on excellence and commitment to the Commonwealth’s arts, ensuring representation from Massachusetts’ diverse dance community.
- The committee submits the three nominees to the governor at least 4 weeks before the current laureate’s term ends (or as soon as possible if there is a vacancy).
- Appointment and term details
- The laureate position is honorary; no salary or wages are paid by the Commonwealth.
- The laureate is not a state official or employee for performance of duties.
- A laureate may be reimbursed for duties up to $1,000 per fiscal year.
- Dancers and support staff selected by the laureate for performances at state events may be paid at market value for those engagements.
Who is affected
- Individuals: choreographers and dancers in Massachusetts; potential nominees (residents with choreographic bodies of work).
- Arts institutions and organizations: Mass Cultural Council, Jacob’s Pillow, The Dance Complex, The Yard, Boston Ballet, and other partners involved in the nomination and performance ecosystem.
- The Commonwealth: governance, programming, and ceremonial events tied to state occasions.
Timeline and procedural notes
- Nomination cycle aligns with the expiration of the current laureate’s term; committee must act roughly 5 months before expiration and forward three nominees to the governor about a month before term end.
- Appointment process mirrors that of the original appointment and vacancy replacement.
This bill would formalize a recurring, community-representative role aimed at advancing dance across Massachusetts, with a defined nomination process and limited, clearly scoped financial provisions.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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