Cycles at Barbican Theatre

Boy Blue prove time and again that hip hop thrives on the stage, and their latest entry, Cycles, is no exception. The production mixes traditional hip hop dance with a mind-bending score and sheer good fun in an experience not soon to be forgotten.

The title Cycles hints at the ideas that went into Michael “Mikey J” Asante’s concept: the nature of the music that circles in on itself; the actual circles the dancers make around the stage; the cyclical rhythm as we move between group and individual performances – all fantastic bits of choreography. But above all, it is the incessant fusion of music with dance that encapsulates the show’s essence.

The cyclical nature of Cycles doesn’t diminish the variety of the performance, however. On the contrary, it’s wonderfully diverse. Highly energetic, almost Spartan dance is succeeded by slow, powerful movements that sink into the heavy beats; wide-ranging motions with powerful swings are juxtaposed with various good-natured – almost silly – choreographies, showing the group just having plain fun with the score and the numbers.

It’s simply a well-put-together show with great choreography by Kenrick “H20” Sandy, and the nine dancers are stellar throughout. They all wear grey, baggy costumes designed by Matthew Josephs and revel in Lee Curran’s atmospheric lighting, which casts a perpetual cold spotlight on the team in various degrees of strength throughout, creating a dream-like atmosphere as the show goes on.

At the end of the performance, the audience is left with various impressions of individuals and their interactions with the rest of the group. In many instances, a dancer will separate from the troupe and perform the main part of a section while the remainder move together; this lets each performer demonstrate their prowess but also creates an excellent, fluid dynamic that maintains interest throughout.

As such, Cycles is yet another success for Boy Blue: utterly engaging with some fantastic dancing, showing that hip-hop dance is a worthy art form in its own right. A definite recommendation.

Michael Higgs
Photos: Camilla Greenwell

Cycles is at Barbican Theatre from 30^th April until 4^th May 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch the trailer for Cycles here: