Today I saw a new video released by the prisoners who do synchronized dancing as an alternative to other exercise.

I remember when I saw the first video, I was blown away. I mean, my friend Lesley Lambert can dance- really dance- but dancing appears to be genetically linked to direction in me- both genes must be located on an atrophied “d” chromosome or something. Then here comes this group- of prisoners!- who worked together to make an orange sea of unity:

Freaking amazing.

What had started as an alternative to enforced recreation has turned into a monthly performance, YouTube video posts with millions of views (which have, in some cases, had the music removed because of copywrite infringement), and inspiration to other prisons.

It amazes me- when I have seen times that you couldn’t get a buyer, a seller, two agents and two attorneys to all dance in the same direction, here is an entire prison- over 60% in for murder, rape or violent crime- cooperating to create beauty.

If someone had set out to change conditions in the worse prison in the country, I feel fairly certain that no matter how many proposals had been fielded, not one would have read, “To institute complete change in this prison and instill a sense of pride and comraderie, I propose that we teach the inmates synchronized dancing.”

The prison reform initiator, Byron Garcia, said that an unintended result is that the prisoners- in a system torn apart by gang activity- have become friends.

When something isn’t working, don’t just think outside of the box- throw the damned box out.  Michael Jackson tribute here. “Jailhouse Rock- video about prison reform in the Phillipines and Byron Garcia’s role in it here