IN Europe, the choreographer William Forsythe is widely considered the most important dance maker on the planet.

Yes, only three men of such genius to add to and permanently change the language itself in all 400 years, so rare is the great dance maker.

Two years ago, in what it called a Discovery Program, the company introduced six young dance makers, four of them from its own ranks.

How, Mr. Pendleton wondered aloud, will the other media influence the next generation of dance makers?

Although he began choreographing only in 1989, Mr. Rioult is an accomplished dance maker who promises even more for the future.

Anderson, now regarded as one of the country's top dance makers, got into the field by the back door.

Jordan Fuchs has a master's degree in choreography from Ohio State University, which is known for producing distinctive dance makers.

Now the festival has widened the scope of its attention to aspiring or experienced dance makers outside the United States.

The Montpellier festival's smaller-scale performances focused on dance makers from the Arab world.

It is direct rather than complex and also uneven simply because its dance makers are not all working on the same level.