Bill
S 2337
Creates an honorary Massachusetts Choreographer Laureate to choreograph state events and promote dance; 4-year term, up to $1,000 reimbursement, and market-rate pay for performers.
Status & introduction
- Introduced (Senate Docket No. 2165) and filed 1/17/2025. Presented by Senator Rebecca L. Rausch (with Leigh Davis listed on the petition). Referred to committees for review; a public hearing was scheduled for 10/21/2025 (per docket metadata).
- Note: some metadata supplied with the request (sponsor names and certain referral entries) appears inconsistent with the bill text and the Massachusetts origin of the bill. This summary follows the bill text filed in the Massachusetts General Court.
Purpose
- Establish an honorary statewide position, “Choreographer Laureate of the Commonwealth,” to recognize and elevate choreography and dance, encourage public participation in the arts, and provide choreography for important state events and ceremonies.
Key provisions
- Creation of office: Inserts a new Section 64 into Chapter 2 of the Massachusetts General Laws to authorize the governor to appoint a choreographer laureate.
- Term and reappointment: Appointee serves a 4-year term and may be reappointed for a second term. Vacancies are filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
- Duties: The laureate shall encourage participation in the arts, elevate the Commonwealth’s dance legacy and communities, and choreograph performances for significant state events and ceremonies.
- Honorary status and compensation:
- The position is expressly honorary; the laureate receives no salary and is not a state official or employee.
- Reimbursement for expenses incurred in performing laureate duties is permitted up to $1,000 per fiscal year.
- Dancers and support staff selected by the laureate for state events shall receive market-value compensation.
- Nominating committee:
- A five-member choreographer laureate nominating committee is established. Members: the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council (or designee) as chair; executives (or designees) from Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.; The Dance Complex; The Yard; and a Boston Ballet company member selected by the chair.
- Committee members serve without compensation.
- Outreach and nominations: Not less than 5 months before the current laureate’s term expires, the committee must conduct culturally competent and linguistically diverse public outreach to solicit nominations (self-nominations and committee-member nominations allowed). Nominees must be Massachusetts residents with a body of choreographic work.
- Selection: The committee reviews nominations and submits three nominees (chosen for excellence and commitment to the Commonwealth’s diverse dance community) to the governor no less than 4 weeks before the incumbent’s term ends (or as soon as possible if a vacancy arises).
Who is affected
- Dance and performing-arts communities across Massachusetts (choreographers, dancers, arts organizations).
- State event organizers and agencies that host official ceremonies.
- Selected performers and support staff (who will receive market-rate pay when hired for state events).
- Minimal administrative/financial effects for state government related to reimbursements and payments for performers.
Potential fiscal impact
- Direct state fiscal exposure appears limited:
- Up to $1,000 per fiscal year for laureate expense reimbursements.
- Additional, variable payments when dancers/support staff are engaged at market rates for state events (likely episodic and event-specific).
Procedural notes
- Appointment process involves state cultural organizations and a gubernatorial appointment from a short list (3 nominees).
- The statute emphasizes diversity, public outreach, and cultural/linguistic competency in the nomination process.
This bill creates a formal, state-recognized role intended to advance choreography and dance statewide while keeping the position honorary and limiting direct ongoing costs to modest reimbursements and event-related performer compensation.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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