 He stopped his lessons (according to him, because too much practice was required; according to his mother, because Cratty's brothers teased him about dance) and didn't resume dancing until high school, when he became involved in the school musical productions.Cratty went on to attend Ohio University where he received a BFA in dance in 1973.The six-foot one-inch tall Cratty joined the José Limón Dance Company in 1974, achieved soloist status, and performed for eight years in works by Limón, Charles Weidman, Anna Sokolow, Doris Humphrey and others.