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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2585 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3589
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Leigh Davis and Rebecca L. Rausch
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a choreographer laureate of the commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Leigh Davis3rd Berkshire1/16/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2585 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3589
By Representative Davis of Great Barrington and Senator Rausch, a joint petition (accompanied
by bill, House, No. 3589) of Leigh Davis for legislation to establish a choreographer laureate of
the Commonwealth. Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a choreographer laureate of the commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 2 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting the following new section:-
3 Section 64. (a) The governor may appoint a resident of the commonwealth to serve as
4choreographer laureate of the commonwealth, selected from a list of nominees submitted by the
5choreographer laureate nominating committee established in this section. The choreographer
6laureate shall seek to encourage participation in the arts, elevate the dance legacy and current
7dance communities in the commonwealth, and choreograph performances for important state
8events and ceremonies. The choreographer laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 4
9years and may be reappointed for a second term. A choreographer laureate vacancy shall be
10filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
11 (b) (i) There shall be a choreographer laureate nominating committee consisting of the
12following 5 members: the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council, or their 2 of 3
13designee, who shall serve as chair; the executive and artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow Dance
14Festival, Inc., or their designee; the executive artistic director of The Dance Complex, or their
15designee; the executive director of The Yard, or their designee; and a member of the Boston
16Ballet company, selected by the chair. Nominating committee members shall serve without
17compensation.
18 (ii) Not less than 5 months prior to the expiration of the then-current choreographer
19laureate’s tenure, the nominating committee shall conduct culturally competent and linguistically
20diverse public outreach and receive nominations of potential candidates for selection as
21choreographer laureate. Self-nominations and nominations from members of the nominating
22committee shall be permitted. Nominees shall be residents of the commonwealth who are
23presently or were previously engaged in the art of choreography and who has produced a body of
24choreographic work. Nominations shall include biographical and professional information about
25the nominee.
26 (iii) The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 3 nominees based
27on their overall excellence and demonstrated commitment to the arts in the commonwealth.
28Nominees should represent the commonwealth’s diverse dance community. The nominating
29committee shall submit the 3 nominees to the governor not less than 4 weeks prior to the
30expiration of the then-current choreographer laureate’s tenure, or as soon as possible in the event
31of a vacancy.
32 (c) (i) The choreographer laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed
33shall receive no remuneration from the commonwealth. The person appointed to the position of 3 of 3
34choreographer laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such
35person’s service in the position.
36 (ii) The choreographer laureate shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred
37in the performance of duties as choreographer laureate, not exceeding $1,000 per fiscal year of
38the commonwealth.
39 (iii) Dancers and support staff selected by the choreographer laureate for performances at
40important state events and ceremonies, consistent with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this
41section, shall be entitled to market value compensation.