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Deep behind the walls of this maximum security prison on the island of Cebu, nearly 1,500 hard-core prisoners gather for their morning routine. Two-thirds of the men here have been either convicted or accused of murder, rape or violent drug crimes, and are considered to be amongst the most dangerous offenders in the Philippines. But every day these inmates put on a heart-pumping display of synchronised dancing.

BYRON CARCIA, PRISON OVERSEER: This is what America has been longing for a jailhouse rock, which they only saw in Elvis Presley. Jailhouse and they are rocking.

MAN, (Translation): Inmates even dream about how they dance because dance is in our daily routine.

The man who is responsible for this dancing revolution is the prison's overseer, Byron Garcia, a man who seems more like a musical show director than a prison warden.

BYRON CARCIA: I am more kinder to them than being tough, you know. They know I am tough so that's why they are afraid of my toughness. But they always regard me as being kind. If you cannot open the door it means you're not a visitor, you're an inmate.

Byron Garcia is actually the official security adviser for the Cebu provincial government, a job given to him by his sister, Gwen Garcia, the Governor of Cebu Province. His first task when he was appointed over two years ago was to clean up Cebu's central prison.

BYRON CARCIA: They say the toughest of the toughest, the inmates here are the toughest in the whole island of Cebu. 70% here are high-risk inmates, meaning if they are convicted they get the life or death. And that is 70%.

Before Byron arrived Cebu's prison was a wretched place where gangs ruled within the prison walls, trading drugs and contraband under the watch of corrupt guards. With no experience in prison management, Byron did not know where to begin.

BYRON GARCIA: Sometimes I find it daunting because I didn't have experience in jail management before. So that is when I tried to study the ins and outs of the jail.

Garcia soon started his clean-up by sacking 42 corrupt prison guards and implementing a 4-tier security structure with different guards reporting to different commands, but all of them watching over each other and closely monitoring all visitors to the prison.

BYRON CARCIA: This is the most meticulous part where they have to check everything. Like this one, for example, this powdered milk, this is being transferred because, you know, this is very easy to reseal, you know. You can open this, then just open this here and then reseal it back, putting drugs inside.

After beefing up security and isolating gang leaders from the rest of the prison population, Garcia began studying the inmates closely.

BYRON CARCIA: Wherever I go, I just log on to the internet and I can watch them.

REPORTER: You can watch any part of the prison?

BYRON CARCIA: Yes. Online, this is online.

One day, when Garcia saw the prisoners marching in the central quadrangle, he struck upon the idea of introducing music and dance.

BYRON CARCIA: I said "Why don't I convert that march into a dance number?" I thought of dancing after that. Look at them. See, they are practising their routines for this afternoon. That's the funny thing about this jail is that people.. Inmates here at night when they sleep, they are counting - one, two, three, four, eight, seven, six, five. It is quite funny.

PRISONER: Five, four, three, two, one.

Now the prisoners' daily routine is taken up with dance rehearsals where they practise complex new routines like this one, a rock of version of Pachelbel's Canon in D.

BYRON CARCIA: Slowly I introduced dancing to them. Macho, they were perceived to be macho people. Macho people don't dance, I mean, That's the stereotype, right? They're supposed to the murderers, they're supposed to be rapists. Do we have to dance?

Before Byron arrived the prisoners had nothing to do and prowled around looking for trouble. But not long after he introduced dance moves to the exercise routine, he noticed a change in their behaviour.

BYRON CARCIA: They became friends, everybody became friends because of that. If you are a friend, then you cannot be my enemy. So it let's say their behaviour changed now. They treat everybody as a friend.

She may stand at less than 5 feet tall but as the prison's official choreographer, Gwen Lador has been given the task of transforming prisoners into performers.

GWEN LADOR, PRISON CHOREOGRAPHER,(Translation): Get up get up Can you copy what they did?

For up to four hours a day, at 6:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon, Gwen takes the prisoners through their routines, teaching the new steps and moves.

GWEN LADOR, (Translation): Take one from here so it is balanced. But the ones inside go next that is once our last. I was surprised when I found that I was going to teach prisoners. I said I didn't want to do it. I really didn't want to. Because I was scared. After I saw on them they were not scary. And one of them said Madam, don't worry. I'll help you with what ever you need." And my fear vanished.

Gwen's job as a prison choreographer is certainly unique. She says teaching inmates to dance is easy enough but getting the routines timed accurately is not.

GWEN LADOR, (Translation): They know how to dance as but they have trouble coordinating with that the music, especially if the music is new to them. You have to practise. You have to count for them.

LEO SUICO, INMATE, (Translation): Everyone come to Conjugal. It's time to prepare.

Even within a prison keeping order amongst 1,500 men can be a challenge, but here in Cebu, a few dozen inmates, usually the big ones, have been selected by Byron Garcia to keep everyone in check. One of them is a former cop called Leo Suico who has been locked up here for six years awaiting trial on charges of multiple murder.

LEO SUICO, (Translation): It is boring here. You'll see the same grim faces and place. Your mind can't change. But when you dance you feel good. Your physical condition changes, even your mind.
If you dance you follow the dictates of the choreographer. And that's the start, and they have the biggest thing that changed us. Because it occupied at time, we have no time to think of the problems in a case. This is Josselle Casayas, my youngest colleague. This is Boy. This is Albert.

Leo wanted to show me around and introduce me to his cell-mates.

LEO SUICO, (Translation): This is Ramil, Joel, Al. And when we eat we pray here. That's our food.

Before Byron Garcia arrived at the Cebu facility, Leo, like many of the other prisoners, was addicted to drugs which were smuggled inside the jail. The only discipline was that meted out by the gangs that ruled here, based on fear and retribution. Now, under direction from Byron Garcia, Leo has been helping introduce a new system of discipline which he says is based on Christian principles.

LEO SUICO, (Translation): Even if we are here we don't have to act like animals. We are also human beings. That is why I discipline them. There are many things that are no longer allowed here. You can't threaten people. Extortion isn't allowed. Shouting isn't allowed. Because we see the people here are respected. We have a belief here. The grace of God gives strength.

For those inmates with Christian beliefs the daily prison routine includes a rousing evangelistic-style church service which is usually packed. Here Leo also plays a key role as one of the chief celebrants.

LEO SUICO, (Translation): God we ask of you that the hindrances in our hearts sinful and evil, be washed away with the blood of Jesus Christ, when you are in jail, the world things you really bad person. We want to show the whole world it is not too late to change.

Leo credits Byron Garcia for giving him and the other inmates a second chance.

LEO SUICO, (Translation): Before no-one had the guts had the guts to discipline us. They thought we were really hard, bad people. But deep within us there is a will to change and the innate goodness.

The real turning point for the dancing inmates of Cebu was the 'Thriller' dance, a choreographed adaptation of Michael Jackson's 1980 smash-hit. It was at this clip, which Byron captured on his home video camera and uploaded to the popular website YouTube, which finally took the dancing inmates of Cebu into a new dimension. Within days they had gone global, with millions of hits and, according to one of the stars of the 'Thriller' dance, a transvestite prisoner called Wenjiel, a new sense of pride.

WENJIEL, (Translation): We are proud of what happened with a 'Thriller'. We never expected that was going to happen. At the start we thought it was just exercise. We thought it was part of their rehabilitation. We didn't know Mr Byron put it on the internet. And then it became so popular.

Wenjiel claims that he is innocent of the drugs charges that landed him in the prison. And despite his massive online popularity, the reality is that he remains in in jail.

WENJIEL, (Translation): I am happy and proud of myself. But I haven't forgotten that I am still a prisoner. I'm still a bit sad because I keep remembering my case. I didn't do anything. I'm innocent.

Wenjiel's partner in the 'Thriller' dance, Crisanto, who is also awaiting trial on drugs charges, says dancing has changed his life.

CRISANTO, (Translation): He will provide all we need as long as it is for a good cause. Nothing is refused. He changed as he put an end to all our vices. He changed our lives.

With full access to the prison I was able to wander freely amongst the inmates. Quite remarkably for a maximum security prison, there is not a trace of animosity but instead a feeling of genuine happiness.

BYRON CARCIA: Say good morning, good morning.

ALL: Good morning.

Just a few years ago nearly every mealtime here at Cebu prison was a dangerous and volatile event, but since the introduction of dancing the incidence of violence amongst prisoners has dropped to zero.

REPORTER: Hungry?

INMATE: I'm hungry.

But even though these men are responding so well to Byron Garcia's dancing therapy, many will soon leave the prison to attend their trials in the capital, Manila. Anxious that they don't return to their old ways in the central prison system, Byron is planning to build a special complex for Cebu's dancing inmates within Manila's central jail.

BYRON CARCIA: If it is possible we can construct a facility there just for CPDRC inmates, a jail within a jail.

REPORTER: So basically they would have their own special section in Manila but that would be similar to this?

BYRON CARCIA: Yes. I really feel that these are good guys now.

For their new version of 'Electric Dreams', the inmates are planning a colourful display using the flags of the world. For these men dancing is now an integral part of life, a way of expressing themselves which is having an impact far far away from their island prison.

CRISTANO, (Translation): I never expected prisoners like us would make the Philippines popular. We are proud that we prisoners of CPRDC I see that what we did is so popular. I'm really proud.

In August a group of 24 prisoners was taken to Cebu's annual celebrations to perform a routine for the general public. Now the inmates are being told there is a chance that the President, Gloria Arroyo, may come to the prison later this month to watch them perform. With new routines to perfect, the excitement is palpable.

BYRON CARCIA: I don't know but I really think these people are happy that they are in this jail.

REPORTER: The happiest prison in the world perhaps.

BYRON CARCIA: Yeah, I hope so. The happiest prison.

Feature Report: Jailhouse Rock

Reporter/ Camera
NICK LAZAREDES

Editor
NICK O’BRIEN

Fixer
KARA MAGNASOC-ALIKPALA

Translations/ Subtitling
RONALD MANILA
KRISTYN MASLOG-LEVIS