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 much3kita1

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INMATE DANCING VIDEO IS GREAT, LOVED THE PEACE SIGN CONFORTING IN THIS TIME OF WAR.

By namehere

Ha, wouldn't it be funny if all the inmates were in jail for molesting children?! Haha horrible irony.

By Sarah

Inmates doesn't deserve praise, they deserve a swift kick in the azz and I don't want another e-mail sent to me, particularly one who claims to be a corrections officer.

By leolux10

@Sarah--Hey, I don't know about you, but i'd praise ANYONE who promotes peace and unity. Afterall, that's what they exhibited. Whether under instruction, or not. God forbid YOU ever do anything wrong, and get the "treatment" for it. Oh wait....you're "Ms. Perfect". Sorry....NOT!!!

XD Smug people like YOU, should locked away. You bring more negativity to an already negative world. We don't need/want it. Keep that within the 4 walls of your BLOCK HEAD!!! Thanks.

By SANDRA CORNIEL

to "LEOLUX10" U MADE ME LAFF

Hey....I try. XD

By marilynn brantley

Refreshing!! Great music video

By Judy

Congrats to the new warden for setting this up.That was wonderful.Hope they continue to do things with the inmates.

By maria*

why is this news? do the higher ups at popeater don't have anything else to write about/ this is truly appaling and i cannot believe people are enjoying this!!!!!!!!!!!

By Ashton

No wonder they're in prison!

By ellymay007

I have been following these dancers since they made their first video, and I have to say, the 3 to 4 guys who were mostly on camera in the black pants are probably hired bc they sure do not look philipino. I think its a great program though, how bout those Chuck's? haha

By Carolyn

THAT WAS FANTASTIC !!!!!!!THEY DID A GREAT JOB OF HONORING MJ .ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE .

By BRIAN

They pick the right songs, very good job, what's up with the 2 white guys?

By Danyelle

I thought this was a GREAT PERFORMANCE!..Yes they are prisoners, but if you can fulfill your dreams as an inmate..more power to you...atleast it is something positive and shows you can be diciplined and following directions can be a great start on a new path....Goood Job!..Oh and whoever put this together...Job Well Done!

By Sandy

I definitely agree!!

By billybob

THEY SHOULD BE ON A CHAIN GANG WORKING INSTEAD OF JUMPING AROUND LIKE A BUNCH OF MONKEYS. THEY IN JAIL FOR A REASON

By Jim

One of the best things I have ever seen. What a great way to let these inmates release negative energy and at the same time pay tribute to a man who clearly spent his life helping others. I wish the best of futures for these inmates as I'm sure Michael would. I just wish he could have been here to see how his music can help bring about change... even in prison.
RIP Michael

By Jeanne

People in prison should not be on TV or on the Net entertaining people. They should be in prison paying their debt to society.People that never broke the law don't get this exposure. Why reward the criminal for his bad behavior?

By armyboop

This is a great video, and to think "prisoners." I am glad that they utilizing their time doing something mentally and physically challenging. Hurray! Great Job Guys!

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