Cranko: the Man and his Choreography - Paperbackby Ashley Killar (Author) Shortly after the New York Times had hailed John Cranko's achievement as 'The German Ballet Miracle', his death mid Atlantic deprived the world of one of its greatest choreographers. After leaving his native South Africa at eighteen, never to return, Cranko quickly became a resident choreographer with the Royal Ballet. He collaborated closely with luminaries such as Benjamin Britten and John Piper and encouraged the young