I've recently become enamored with a phenomenon in a Philippines prison. According to an article on CNN, a prison overseer in a Cebu decided to make dancing mandatory for the inmates. If a prisoner refused to dance, he lost valued privileges--conjugal visits, for one. As a result, they've not only choreographed and filmed several music videos, one of which is a cover ofThriller, they've reduced violence in the prison compound as well.

But that's not all. A lot of the prisoners have regained confidence from themselves as a result. Check out a couple of these comments from the article:

Leo Suico, who's accused of mass murder, says dancing means "we don't think of bad things." Fighting back tears, he says the experience has taught him "love" -- pure and simple.

That sentiment is echoed by other prisoners, including Wenjiell Resane. An accused methamphetamine dealer and self-described "she-male," Resane shares a single prison cell with a dozen transsexuals. She has been waiting three years for trial.

Resane is the star of the "Thriller" video in which more than 1,000 other prisoners took part.

"I tried being a performer before, but no one took any notice," Resane says with the mock bashfulness of the practiced celebrity. "Now, in jail, I have become a star."

And then there's my favorite:

The Michael Jackson role is performed with flair by 36-year-old Crisanto Niere, an accused crack dealer who has been waiting five years for trial.

He loves the dancing and laughs at his unlikely fame, but says the video has brought him a reward he once thought would be forever beyond his reach. His son, Christopher, has only known him as a prison inmate.

"He used to be so ashamed of me," says Niere. "Now when he goes to school, he tells everyone the dancer on the Internet is his father."

He adds, "It makes me proud that my son is proud of me."

Apparently violence hasn't broken out in their prison in a year and a half, which is amazing when you consider that, according the the prison overseer, it used to break out once a week.

Byron Garcia, the overseer, said, "We don't have dumbbells here. We don't have weights. We have dancing. These men learned they can dance and still be men. It makes them work together, it makes them exercise and they learn self-esteem."

He continued, "They no longer feel like lowly criminals." A smile [broke] his face, "Now," he says, "they feel like celebrity criminals."

Check out their video here, which has gotten over 6 million hits on the internet.
You'll probably notice quickly that the "woman" is played by Wenjiell Resane, a transvestite and accused meth dealer. I think she's better than the original actress.

You gotta love it.