Troupe

The word troupe is a term traditionally used to refer to a group of dancers, actors, or other entertainers (such as minstrelsy or Christy's performers) who tour to different venues. The Afrikaans term is troep or troepe.

Though very similar in pronunciation, this is not to be confused with the military term "troop" (or "troops")[1].

The Afrikaans and Dutch word troep (or troepe in the plural) is however used in both senses. For example, while troops of military soldiers are referred to as a "troepe", crowds may be referred to as "troepe mense" and in Cape Town to this day the individual groups participating in the annual Cape Minstrel Carnival are still referred to as "troupes" (or troepe in Afrikaans).