Cycles review — Boy Blue showcases innovative hip-hop at the Barbican

Boy Blue was founded more than 20 years ago and in that time it has transformed UK street dance into a new and vibrant form of theatre. For its latest show, Cycles, the London-based troupe explores what makes hip-hop dance special, from its raw energy to its staggering acrobatic virtuosity and generous sense of self-empowerment. We have nine casually dressed dancers on stage and what makes them special is that each is at heart an accomplished soloist, here given a chance to show us what they do best (apparently no two performances are the same). But bring them together and the sense of community they evoke is powerful and invigorating. There is no narrative to Cycles. The choreography, by the estimable Kenrick “H20”