Cebu inmates do the Gangnam; Over half million hits in 2 days

After only two days online, the latest performance of  Cebu’s  dancing inmates  got over half a million hits  in YouTube.

About a thousand inmates in orange prison shirts danced in the rain  to Korean singer Psy’s hit song “Oppa Gangnam Style.”

The  Sept. 29 performance at the the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPRDC) in barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City revived  their monthly open-house  shows after being suspended following a commotion among inmates last February.

“We consider this the resurrection of the dancing inmates.We are very thankful to those who are supporting them  despite the short break,” choreographer Vince Rosales told Cebu Daily News.

Spectators included local residents and tourists from other provinces and abroad.

The video with the most number of views was posted in YouTube by radio dyRC  reporter Ryan Christopher Sorote and filmed by GMA 7 Cebu reporter Mark Anthony Baustista.

Both didn’t  expect  the video would be such a hit in a short time because inmates only had a short time to rehearse.

“I finished the choreography and started teaching them the dance September 25,”said Rosales, the choreographer.

“That same day, they got all the steps. It was not difficult to teach because the song and concept is fun.”

Sorote said he was “ really happy with the feedback.

“I did not expect that it  would  reach that much views since there were many others who took videos.  It was my own simple way of helping them get back in the limelight. I hope that through the video, more fellow Filipinos can be proud of these people (inmates) who displayed discipline and dedication in performing the dance,” Sorote said.

The  video, posted last Sunday was  reposted over Facebook and Twitter garnering positive remarks around the globe.

As of press time, seven YouTube accounts have posted the dance performance video by YouTube users Ryan Christopher, Even Demata, kaztaraz, miczer8, comval province, D TN, and nocommenttv.

The channel with Sorote got  almost 400,000 views in two days around the globe while Demata’s video followed far behind with 40 thousand clicks.

The CPDRC dancing inmates first caught the world’s attention when their version of  Michael Jackson’s dance  video “Thriller”was posted in 2007.

Choosing the comeback piece was easy for the choreographer as they  received many requests to do the Gangnam dance.

“A lot of people have been asking us to dance Gangnam because it is very popular. So I showed the video to the inmates and explained to them that this is the latest dance craze outside the CPDRC. They liked it and were excited to learn the steps,” Rosales said.

“I received a call from a French news agency. They wanted to visit and personally witness the Gangnam dance, “ Rosales said.