ABOU LAGRAA: A native of Lyon, where he studied at the National Conservatory, Abou Lagraa performed with Rui Horta and in productions by Robert Pool, Denis Plassard and Lionel Hoche. His own riveting choreography, a mixture of hip-hop and contemporary dance, is rapidly making him one of France’s most talked about young choreographers.

BALLET BIARRITZ: It’s perhaps not an accident that Ballet Biarritz is based in France’s southwest city of Biarritz, the birthplace of ballet. Headed by choreographer Thierry Malandain, the company presents some of Europe’s most imaginative neo-classical ballets with subjects ranging from an irreverent look at the story of Creation to a contemporary homage to Ballets Russes to a 21st century consideration of the myth of Artemis.

COMPAGNIE BLANCA LI: The versatile, Spanish-born artist, who made her American debut as part of France Moves in 2001, has accumulated numerous awards as a choreographer, film director, dancer and actress. Her boldly theatrical dances — humorous, poignant and sensual —incorporate elements of her various talents. In addition to creating works for her own troupe, she has received numerous commissions, most recently from the Paris Opera Ballet.

COMPAGNIE MAGUY MARIN: It’s one thing to have experienced the startling work of Maguy Marin, one of the world’s greatest choreographers; it’s another to forecast her next venture. Marin creates varied worlds ranging from powerful political and social commentary to classic story ballets and classic contemporary stories radically retold — all with sly humor, provocative fantasy and romantic wit.

COMPAGNIE MONTALVO-HERVIEU: José Montalvo and Dominique Hervieu, masters of multimedia high jinx, combine modern dance, hip-hop, flamenco, ballet, African-influenced moves and film with the light touch of a soufflé maker. Ranging from baroque to hip-hop to accordion, their musical choices are equally unpredictable, crisscrossing cultures and generations with surprising and uncanny grace.

TERO SAARINEN COMPANY: Performances by Tero Saarinen Company at the 2004 Lyon Biennale de la Danse were chosen among the year’s top ten by Anna Kisselgoff in The New York Times. The former Finnish National Ballet soloist integrates ballet, butoh, jazz and contemporary modern dance in radically new interpretations of Stravinsky’s “Sacre du Printemps” and “Petruchska,” whose score is
reduced to two accordions.