CPDRC Dancing Inmates or the CPDRC dancers is a collective of prison inmates in Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum-security prison in Cebu, in Cebu Province, the Philippines where the prisoners perform dance routines as part of their daily exercise and rehabilitation, and many of their performances are filmed and released online, making them a popular feature among fans and veritable online celebrities.
The video begins with the organ chords of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Men in orange suits gather in a courtyard. With pre
cision, they snap into rows and begin dancing.
Byron F. Garcia, the official security advisor to the Cebu government, is credited for starting a program of choreographed exercise routines for the inmates. He was appointed head of the prison by his sister Gwendolyn Garcia, governor of Cebu. In 2006, he began uploading videos of the dance performances; its best-known video was the rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, uploaded in 2007.
Other music video performances covering popular songs were also uploaded, and public performances were held through 2010, including some outside the facility.
The dance program was launched at other prison facilities, has been referenced by other television shows worldwide, and inspired the creation of several documentaries, musicals, and drama films.
Flash mobs are nothing new. The twist to this routine? It took place in a maximum-security prison in Cebu, Philippines.
Uploaded in YouTube’s early days in 2007, the video went viral and has since racked up 58 millio
n views. In retrospect, it’s no surprise this humanizing video was such a smash hit. Most of us don’t readily associate prison with joy and dancing — this video defied expectations.
But how “happy” is this now-famous prison, really? Happy Jail, a five-part documentary series by Michele Josue, goes deep into the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC). This famous performance is actually monthly and opens to the public.
Any youtube regulars have seen the
Filipino prisoners perform Thriller on their computer screen but not many have actually witnessed the performance live. Lovers of music and zaniness alike need to make a stop in Cebu for this. The performances are open to the public on the last Saturday of each mo
nth.
Along with watching the over 1500 orange-clad choreographed men, spectators can buy t-shirts and get photos with the “stars”. Rumor has it that certain prisoners have been invited to perform at other venues, but these might be harder to catch as letting the convicts (some of whom are serving life sentences) out threatens public safety.
