Arts & EntertainmentMarch 21, 2013

Dancers Drummers Dreamers plans to go places (and take you with them)

ALAN SOLAN INLAND360.COM
Daily News file photo/Geoff CrimminsA percussionist is seen during a rehearsal for Dancers, Drummers, Dreamers at Hartung Theatre in Moscow on Wednesday.
Daily News file photo/Geoff CrimminsA percussionist is seen during a rehearsal for Dancers, Drummers, Dreamers at Hartung Theatre in Moscow on Wednesday.Daily News file photo/Geoff Crimmins
A blend of sound + motion
A blend of sound + motion
A percussionists and dancers rehearse for Dancers, Drummers, Dreamers at Hartung Theatre in Moscow on Wednesday.
A percussionists and dancers rehearse for Dancers, Drummers, Dreamers at Hartung Theatre in Moscow on Wednesday.Geoff Crimmins

MOSCOW - Dancers Drummers Dreamers, the University of Idaho's annual performance of music and dance will take place today, Friday and Saturday at the UI's Hartung Theater.

The theme for this year's performance is "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" and the show will feature choreography and music set in various cultures, time periods and fantasy places. The main theme for this year's show is "It's a Small World."

The show was started by the UI's Diane Walker and Dan Bukvich.

"We were interested in blending sound and movement and also allowing the music and dance students to collaborate," Walker said. "It's a unique program. There's no other program in the country that allows students to do this to the extent we do."

Walker said a big reason for the zaniness that is part of every show is that musicians create music without a dance in mind and choreographers create dances without music in mind.

"Then we match them up and have them adapt to each other. They kind of find new ideas that way. It was what modern dancers were doing in the '20s and '30s."

This year's program will feature nearly two dozen separate performances created by more than 100 students and faculty members.

This year is the 22nd anniversary of the program, which took place in the UI Administration Building auditorium its first two years and has been presented at the Hartung since then.

"We've always had sell-out crowds," Walker said. "I think that's because it's fun and funny - really high energy. And it's seamless. Once it starts, there's never a feeling that it stops."

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Performers have been practicing their dances or songs since December, but the production didn't get a complete, comprehensive run-through until this week, Walker said.

"The individual pieces are all fine," she said. "It's how do you put it all together in a big show?"

It's been that way since the first performance, and they've always been able to pull it off, Walker said.

"We have this idea. We have no idea what the end result will be," she said. "If you trust yourself enough, you know you're going to come up with a great project."

Videos of past DDD performance can be found on YouTube.

Tickets are on sale at TicketsWest outlets and ticketswest.com or at the UI Ticket Office. The event usually sells out and buying tickets early is advised.

Those seeking more information, may contact Walker at (208) 885-2184 or dbwalker@uidaho.edu.

Solan can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 235, or by email at asolan@inland360.com.

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