Dance
About
Dance is a very important aspect of Guyanese culture. It has been integrated into the history of Guyana as well as in its people. Since there are many different groups of people present in Guyana, there are also many different styles of dance that are popular here since they use different styles from all different places (the same as their music). Dance is a common form of expression in Guyanese culture, because of all the different groups of people that are present here.
African dance specifically is a dominant aspect of the culture that is present in Guyana. It is present in many social, religious, and traditional ceremonies. African in Guyana also use dance in order to commemorate important social, religious, and ritual events in their culture. This dance is used in different forms, such as the form of religious worship, storytelling, and also in entertainment. This dance can be seen in many ceremonies such as: Soiree and its dances, Kumfa dance which is practiced in some African populated communities in Guyana, and Queh Queh which is still an integral part of Guyanese African heritage and wedding rituals.
Since there is modernization taking place, traditions are fading and African dance is as well. There have been a few attempts to revive traditional African dance to keep it alive here. Modern choreography is added to the mix in performances and shows. Although this revival has not seen a lot of progress, people still have hope that African dance in Guyana will not completely disappear.