Cebu’s dancing inmates get two-day training under Michael Jackson’s choreographer

CEBU CITY, Jan. 20 (PNA) – The dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), known for their viral video on YouTube dancing the late Michael Jackson’s hit “Thriller,” had the chance to work with the King of Pop’s choreographer.

Travis Payne, the late Michael Jackson’s choreographer, taught the CPDRC inmates the dance steps of “The Drill” for two days.

Payne, who paid a courtesy call to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia Monday, said “The Drill” was the last choreography that he and Jackson worked together for the “This Is It” concert.

After Jackson died on June 25, 2009, Payne said one of the plans was to actually visit the prison that has become world famous for its dancing inmates.

”So it’s just a blessing to continue to share his messages for love and peace and to feel the love of all the Filipino people. It’s just been a wonderful experience,” he added.

Cebu is one of the group’s stops for their “peace tour.” Their team considers Cebu important because of the “fame that has come to the inmates dancing to Jackson’s music.”

”It is a wonderful partnership in just spreading love and peace. I think that with Jackson at the center of everything. It is really a blessing to be here,” Payne added.

Their ongoing tour is in conjunction with the worldwide release of “This Is It” concert on DVD and will be featured on CNN exclusively.

”We will talk about the wonderful experience we have in Cebu and show the footage so that all of Jackson’s fans around the world will get to enjoy it as well,” he added.

Payne served as Jackson’s associate director for 18 years.

”Michael and his art live forever. He’s not with us physically but he’s with us spiritually. We saw him now. His work and all of his messages are being realized again and I think that it’s unfortunate that he had to pass in order for more attention to come on what he has done for so many years,” he added.

He also said that it was unfortunate that when Jackson passed, they were just eight days away from traveling to London for his concert. He said that they had a new cast with 13 new dancers, handpicked by Jackson, from around the world.

”One dancer even came from the Philippines,” he added. (PNA)
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