At a maximum security prison in the Philippines, visitors were treated to an entertaining spectacle as they watched close to 1,000 inmates dancing Gangnam Style.
The prison made international headlines back in 2007 when a video was uploaded of inmates dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Now it looks like they’ve got another viral sensation on their hands with the this video capitalizing on the latest dance craze to sweep the globe -- Gangnam Style.
It wasn't always fun and games though. According to a BBC report, inmates at the prison practice dancing an hour a day and there were alleged cases of violence against those who refused to participate. But for many inmates dancing Gangnam Style, the chance to boogie provides a much welcome break from the monotony of incarcerated life. "Before… we just get our food and go back to our cell, and if we don’t have anything to do we just talk," said one inmate in a USA Today interview. "But it is different now. Every day we are very busy preparing to dance for our upcoming shows. We are very proud of what we have done."
Pop Music Prisoners (UPDATED)
The Inmates Dancing Gangnam Style Sure Can Bust a Move
Trend Themes
1. Viral Dance Sensations - The popularity of videos featuring inmates dancing to popular songs opens up opportunities for creating more viral dance sensations in unique settings.
2. Inmate Rehabilitation Through Dance - The success of dance programs in prisons for inmate rehabilitation suggests potential for disruptive innovation in the field of correctional rehabilitation.
3. Creative Outlet in Incarceration - The use of dance as a creative outlet for inmates demonstrates the potential for disruptive innovation in providing artistic and expressive opportunities within the prison system.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment - The popularity of viral dance videos involving inmates presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the entertainment industry to create captivating and unique online content.
2. Correctional Rehabilitation - The success of dance programs in prisons for inmate rehabilitation suggests disruptive innovation possibilities for the correctional rehabilitation industry to explore new forms of therapy and self-expression.
3. Prison Management - The use of dance as a means to engage and occupy inmates suggests opportunities for disruptive innovation in prison management to foster a more positive and productive prison environment.