Reflections on life at “De Witte Wand”…

Michael Crookes

I was saddened to learn that Michael Crookes died last month. He was a dancer, choreographer, writer and dance administrator. He was only 47 when he died on the 12th April, in Tunbridge Wells. He had been suffering from cancer.

I only knew him for a short time when our paths crossed in the early 1980s. We had a friend in common: Kerrison Cooke. Kerry was a dancer at the London Festival Ballet and he and Michael , who joined the Royal Ballet in 1980, became very close. Michael had a great sense of humour, and young as he was, was an excellent storyteller and wit. Kerry also had an impish sense of humour, and the combination of the two of them could reduce their listeners to tears of laughter. Alas, Kerry died back in 1989, and now Michael has gone too.

The May 2009 issue of Dance Europe carries Michael’s obituary, and I also found the following on YouTube, which appears to have been made by Michael during his last days:

RIP, Michael.

May 28, 2009

Categories:

Performing Arts

8 responses to “Michael Crookes”

georgia allen

May 15, 2011

Thankyou for posting about Michael Crookes. I was at Legat ballet school with him in the same year.My friend Cathy Evans and I would have endless banter with micheal and tease him mercilessly, and he would think up evil pranks to get his own back. Needless to say we were v. fond of him.I became an actor and bumped into him in clapham in the late 80s He was still hilarious. Thankyou for posting the montage – it brought back many memories. God bless him!

Reply
1. Geoff Coupe
  
  May 15, 2011
  
  Hello Georgia, glad to have been able to freshen your memories of Michael…
  
  Reply
  1. Nina Ghosh
    
    January 4, 2013
    
    Hi – Nina Ghosh here. I also was at Legat with Michael and have many fond memories of a lovely sensitive sweet boy. I was at the senior end of the school when he joined and was his ‘ school mum’. Much later, we renewed our friendship because my son (aged 8yrs at the time) was dancing and Michael took the boys class every Saturday. It was so good to renew our friendship but unfortunately it was not long after that he became ill. They say the ‘good die young’ and that seems to ring true in Michael’s case. Thanks for the lovely footage.
    
    Reply
  2. Serge Guilbert
    
    April 2, 2021
    
    Hi Geoff, I wonder if you know the burial place of Michael ? Kind regards, Serge
    
    Reply
    1. Geoff Coupe
      
      April 3, 2021
      
      Hello Serge, I’m afraid I don’t know – as I say, I only knew Michael briefly back in the 1980s when he was a friend of Kerry Cooke.
      
      Reply
Catherine Francoise

June 5, 2014

What a wonderful dancer Michael was ~ Rest in Peace

Reply
Serge Guilbert

March 2, 2017

So very sad.After so many years I finally find out what happened to Michael Crookes whom i had met and known in 1980 when i was working at the Royal Opera House. I had lost touch with him to my regret. Seeing his smile again for the first time after so many years brought back so many happy memories of a too brief close friendship. I never forgot him.

Reply
Dougie

December 1, 2024

Thank you for posting this. I knew and worked with Michael when he lived in Glasgow in the mid 90’s but regretfully lost touch with him when he moved away. He was such a good man – wickedly funny and so supportive. I’ve often wondered what became of him – and now I’m saddened to know. I’ll never forget him.

Reply