Raka
Raka is an Afrikaans dramatic poem by N.P. van Wyk Louw.
Seen by many as a visionary metaphor for the battle between good and evil, or even for civilization in Africa.
Raka has been performed numerous times in various ways in the country. Often simply as a dramatised verse reading (e.g by ** in **), though
In many ways the most notable version was perhaps Frank Staff's seminal ballet (1967), the harbinger of a truly South African tradition in ballet. Performed many times in various ways by a range of companies, including the Cape Town City Ballet (choreographed by Veronica Paeper), the George Arts Festival (2001, with Christo Davids) .
A stage adaptation has been done by Niel le Roux. The title was used by André Letoit for another kind odf adaptation, called Raka – Die Musical (Vry Vertaling van die Bacchae) ("Raka The Musical. A free adapatation of the bacchae"): .
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