Dance theatre in the Caribbean has developed in a number of interesting and increasingly important directions. Folk dance has long been at the core of these, but popular dance forms have also been growing in strength and significance, not only as a part of the dance theatre, but as a major influence in shaping it. In fact a concept of popular dance has emerged. It began to shape itself into a new form in late twentieth century dance and has become increasingly popular and influential on the stage of the twenty-first century.
This might be the best place to begin in an attempt to understand the performances of the Classique Dance Company and the place it has carved out for itself in the dance theatre in Guyana. While it is obvious that Classique is interested in different dance forms and has explored a few on stage, it is within this concept of popular dance that they seem to have found an important niche. The company appears also to be a private dance school and has clearly trained many in appropriate techniques, but from a critical standpoint, it is what they do in what may be called popular dance that has made them an interesting study, and it is there that they are important as a major force in dance in Guyana.
This kind of focus once again stood out in their most recent performance of the annual production Dance Like You Do Number 8, titled Dancehall Vibes. They have shown an interest in classical dance and have even used ballet in forms of burlesque, in folk opera, in Absurdism and experimental explorations. In a recent production, Outrageous, they
