Flexx Cautiion grounded for the ‘Holiday’ - But dancer is optimistic despite circumstances

Stephanie Lyew

Flexx Cautiion says he was "frustrated" after what he now describes as "God-sent roadblocks" at the Norman Manley International Airport on November 26.

"I was checking in for a flight to the Turks and Caicos but was told that I was missing a document that is required in another country that I would be travelling to," he told THE WEEKEND STAR. The dancer had already conditioned his mind to travel to an unfamiliar place on his own and to take three different flights to get there.

Having won the Red Bull Dance Your Style Jamaica 2021 National Final, Flexx Cautiion, given name Shemar Brown, was headed to Johannesburg, South Africa, to represent Jamaica in the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final. It was slated to take place on December 4. However, Jamaica and several other governments had issued a travel ban for several African countries after the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, was first detected in South Africa. Flexx Cautiion was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Maybe I would have arrived in South Africa and can't come back. Maybe I would have got to France and can't move. I don't know what would have happened if I got to Turks and Caicos, then Santo Domingo, then Paris to Johannesburg, not being aware of this new variant," he said. "When I just found out I couldn't make it to the competition I was like 'Wow, a great opportunity just went through the window because of a paper'. But then when I heard that it was cancelled or they'd hopefully be announcing a new date, the optimistic side of me kicked in and said more time to explore more genres and calibres of dance."

The world final format takes on a one-on-one street dance style where Flexx Cautiion would be required to compete against another dancer, and freestyle to a randomly selected song in two rounds. Both dancers would get one minute each and the audience votes.

He said, "I feel I was prepared enough to take home the trophy but maybe not in the way I'd want to take it." Thirty-seven finalists were expected to participate.

A FULL SCHEDULE

"Now I can work on perfecting my dance moves. I was already high off the excitement from the competition but I am grounded; is just to sit back and wait to hear the announcements Red Bull will make next year," he said. "I have a few video shoots, I am working out, going to the gym and with Team Cautiion, we have a new dance move called 'Holiday' that we are working on."

The dance move has variations for Christmas, Easter and summer. There is much to celebrate, said Flexx Cautiion, despite the circumstances of not seeing the sights of a new country this month. He turns 25 on December 28.

"Yep, quarter of a century on this Earth. I am just looking forward to chilling with family and friends and teaching people 'Holiday' and spreading the true meaning of the holidays," he said.