At work, at play, the Philippines grooves to Papaya beat

Manila - Prisoners, supermarket workers, even the U.S. Ambassador: none are immune to the "Papaya" dance craze that is inspiring the Philippines to gyrate to its beat.

"It is a silly dance," said Edu Manzano, the TV game show host and former actor responsible for making the "Papaya" a nationwide hit by featuring it on his show.

"I call it silly because it does not take any degree of expertise," said Manzano, who is also the Philippines' anti-piracy czar.

A clip of U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney shaking her hips, shuffling her arms in the air and pointing her index fingers alongside Manzano is a popular clip on YouTube, with more than 30,000 hits since it was posted four months ago.

About 1,700 "Papaya" dances, starring children and young people, as well as Transformer toys and Ronald McDonald, have been posted on the video-sharing Web site by enthusiasts.

The dance's catchy beat and steps have gripped dance floors across the country, as well inspiring groovers at less likely venues, including a church, a supermarket and a jail.

Over 400 inmates at a prison south of Manila were recorded dancing the "Papaya" in sync, and received an award on Manzano's gameshow for their efforts.

At a supermarket in Bicutan, also south of the capital, some 500 supervisors, counter personnel, and baggers stop every hour to groove to the beat.

"We want to entertain our customers and the dance serves as an exercise routine for the employees," one of the supermarket's supervisors said.

Originally recorded in the 1970s, Manzano remade the tune with him shouting "Papaya!" in the background.

Its success was sealed after he included it along with 13 other songs on a "World's Greatest Dance Steps" album, which has sold more than 80,000 copies since its launch last year.

Now the "Papaya" is an officially approved dance.

On the central island of Boracay, employees at OneMGM (My Greatest Moments) are encouraged to jive to the "Papaya" while at work, and say it is their way of welcoming guests.

"The beat alone, it's contemporary and it can be danced by the young and the old, even me," said Rex Fuentes, the resort manager.

"There is something in that music that creates fun."-- Reuters

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with