Filipino Prisoners Dance to Michael Jackson's 'They Don't Care About Us'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 27th 2010 03:44PM

The Filipino prisoners who became YouTube sensations for their staged version of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' are at it again. This time 1500 or so inmates from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (under the direction of MJ's choreographer Travis Payne and dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid) perform a dance number to Jackson's 'They Don't Care About Us.'

Watch the new video and see their 'Thriller' performance. >>

Sony Pictures' Fritz Friedman told USA TODAY, "We thought it would be a great idea to pay homage to MJ on the occasion of the release of 'This Is It' by going to Cebu and having Travis work with the dancers to create this piece which is from the film."

According to reports, Payne arranged a surprise visit to meet the performers in the high security prison. Once there, Payne spent two hours on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 teaching the dancers the routines from Jackson's tune.

Their original YouTube footage, uploaded in mid-July, shows the prisoners dancing to the Michael Jackson song 'Thriller' and has been viewed more than 10 million times.

Watch Michael Jackson's original videos:

Tags: michael jackson, MichaelJackson

Comments

(123)

Thursday 28 January

By Brigidaval

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Congratulations Cebu inmates!!! Thank you for showing the world your natural Filipino artistry and how you can do a good job when you put your hearts and minds into it. Kudos to MJ's choreographers too!

By MIKE

WHY DON'T THE ADMINISTRATION "DANCE" THEM OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND CLEAN UP THE "DUMPS" THEY LIVE IN....

By Spiderwoman

This is a shining example of the power of humankind. This is the spirit that built the pyramids.

By Alison1of4@aol.com

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Michael is smiling.

By Melsy

Prison is a tool that society uses to get rid of the people we don't wish to assiocate with any more. Sure many people have done things that were dispicable, but if we took the worst thing that you ever did in your life, and decided that represents who you are, where would you be right now?
What if we decided that the bad thing you did meant you should go to prison for the next 4 years, and that you had no rights in the matter? What if accused you and you were innocent, but you still got carted away? We dictate what is right and wrong and then jail those who do not follow our laws. I think that what these prisoners did was amazing and shows that no matter where we are we are still human beings in need of contimplation, and capable of thoughtful acts.

By Bernadette

An amazing video. Made MJ real proud!!

By Dan

Good job. It gives them something constructive to do. Gangs all working together to produce this? Even better. Less problem. Now if only they would have put that energy into something constructive like this prior to ending up in jail..... It's hard to get that many people in sync. And very hard to remember what to do next. Good job whoever got them together.

By Lucy

Must say..... A pleasure to watch. Great choreagraphy. What better thing to do, then to have a tribute to Michael Jackson, give the inmates something to do, and let us enjoy such a wonderful presentation. Thanks.

By Les Orange

Really great to watch and thats how all prisons should be. Those guys deserve a lot of credit. well done!

By R

Any one know how to find out who the white guy in the front on the right is? Would like to write him.

By Katie

You guys were awesome; there was a lot of pop. Michael would be very proud of y'all. Thanks again, & give us more. :-)

By cindy

this was an amazing an well put together program. a pleasure to watch and a blessing for those who got to participate. michael will be greatly missed by all...

By Jennifer

i believe that this is a great thing. at least they have a recreational activity in which they have to work as a group. and by the way many of the inmates are waiting for trial.its not like in the US in which we have a bail system and speedy trial. they havent been proved guilty. and i think that i rather teach them how to dance than lock them up and deal with other consequences later if the get released to society. things arent as black and white as you might think.

By george9448

Typo-I meant 'station" not "staion."

By DICEMAN

give em 10% off of vaseline, and get the **** back in the closet.............LONG LIVE THE "DICEMAN"!!!!!!!!

By Rachel

Are you kidding me? Someone said there have been fewer fights and bad incidents because of this dancing thing, well who gives a rats behind if they fight eachother in jail or kill eachother for that mattter! They're criminals, killers, theives and PEDIFILES, I hope they dance into the flames of hell and burn, baby, burn.

By Sandy

Think of it this way...yes, they are in jail and shouldn't get any privilages. I agree. However, if you work there in any capacity, especially as a guard, I'd rather be around docile prisoners then ones wanting to cut your throat. If this relatively SIMPLE and CHEAP task keeps them somewhat more docile and safer to be around then I'd be all for it!!!

By Sarah

george9448, not that it is any of your business, but I have worked in/around the criminal justice system and those maximum security inmates are in the pen because of their violent crimes, they don't deserve to see daylight, never mind a performance on any level so take that and stuff it in your hat.

Like I said before, it is a CHEAP and SIMPLE way to manage the aggression of incarcerated inmates. I don't have a problem with it. It's almost impossible to understand this unless you've worked in a prison. Kudos to the warden!!

Tuesday 02 February

By Kathy

I think the first video was really good, but you can see how they have improved. The second video was GREAT. Keep up the nice work.

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