“Inmate Thriller” Dancers Are Now Famous!

Remember the "Inmate Thriller" video played out by 1,500 dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines?

Well, after 16 million plus people watched their video on YouTube, they’re now famous … Intelligent Travel has the back story of the Inmate Thriller phenomenon:

Garcia was first brought into the Cebu prison in 2004 to boost morale after a series of riots took place. Under Garcia’s influence, dozens of jail guards were fired for corruption, and a new exercise regimen was implemented. Out of this routine sprung the dance program.

The results have been nothing but beneficial. In addition to putting the inmates on the map, dancing “gives the inmates something to do, something they can be proud they’re part of,” says Pepe Diokno, a University of the Philippines film student, who spent time at the Cebu facility while filming his documentary, “Dancing for Discipline.” The inmates agree that prison conditions have improved, and the amount of attention brought on by their performances doesn’t hurt either. “Because our families have seen us on TV and the Internet, things are better,” says inmate Marfury Barberan. “They don’t worry so much about us and don’t think so much that we have no more hope.”

Link - Thanks Marilyn Terrell!