John Cranko

John Cranko (1927-1973)

Born in Transvaal, South Africa, he began studying ballet in Johannesburg with Nina Monique, and later with Marjorie Sturman. In 1944, Cranko began training in the University of Cape Town Ballet School under Dulcie Howes, and in 1944 created his first choreography in the Cape Town Ballet Club. In late 1945 he moved to London to study in Sandler’s Wells Theater, and quickly joined its company in Covent Garden and began choreographing for it. In 1951, he retired of dancing and became the company’s resident choreographer. He was active with the company throughout the late 1940s and ‘50s, and at the same time choreographed for other companies in the UK, including the Royal Academy of Dance and the St. James Ballet, Chatham, and worldwide, including La Scala and the New York City Ballet.
In 1960 Cranko moved to Germany and the next year became the artistic director of Stuttgart Ballet. He worked as the company’s choreographer, ballet master and teacher until his untimely death. In 1971, he founded the Stuttgart Ballet School – the first in Germany that was also a boarding school. Moreover, between 1967 and 1971, he was the chief choreographer of the Bavarian State Opera Ballet.

In 1971, Cranko arrived in Israel to choreograph two works for Batsheva:  Ami-Yam Ami-Ya’ar (Song of My People – Forest People) and Ebony Concerto. Amy-Yam Ami-Ya’ar was an original piece, one of the first to deal with the Holocaust, and was based on Hebrew poetic texts read by actress Hanna Maron. The dance proved hugely successful and the company performed it on many occasions. Ebony Concerto was a comic dance that was also performed frequently.
John died unexpectedly at age 45. The John Cranko Society in Stuttgart, founded in 1975, presents the annual John Cranko Award.