♪ ♪P >> HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO "DAKOTA LIFE."

I'M YOUR HOST, MICHELLE VAN MAANEN.

THOSE LAZY, HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER ARE ALMOST JUST A MEMORY, AND THE COOL BREEZES OF FALL ARE UPON US.

DURING THIS SUMMER PAST, DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO TAKE IN A RODEO?

HOW ABOUT A MUSIC FEST OR SOME ARTS IN THE PARK?

WELL, IF YOU DIDN'T GET AROUND TO IT THEN, YOU ARE IN LUCK TONIGHT BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO VISIT WITH A VERY SERIOUS RODEO CLOWN, A SOUTH DAKOTA ARTIST WITH AN INTERNATIONAL FLAIR, AND A GROUP OF DEDICATED YOUNG DRUMMERS.

FIRST, GET READY TO LAUGH AND BE ENTERTAINED BY A CLOWN ON A MISSION, A MISSION TO KEEP THE CROWDS HAPPY AND THE COWBOYS SAFE.

AS WE CATCH UP TO BROTHER TAYLOR, WE FIND HE TAKES HIS CLOWNING AROUND VERY SERIOUSLY.

♪ ♪ >> IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT IN LATE >> IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT IN LATE AUGUST.

THE RODEO IS IN YANKTON FOR RIVERBOAT DAYS, AND WHERE THERE'S A RODEO, YOU'LL FIND A RODEO CLOWN.

ON THIS NIGHT, THE CLOWN IS BROTHER TAYLOR FROM WIMBERLEY, TEXAS.

WE TALKED WITH BROTHER AS HE WAS GETTING READY FOR THE NIGHT'S PERFORMANCE TO FIND OUT HOW SOMEONE BECOMES A RODEO CLOWN.

>> I THINK MOST OF US GUYS KIND OF GET STARTED IN A-- IT'S ONE OF THOSE DEALS YOU'RE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

SOMEBODY USUALLY DOESN'T SHOW UP, AND YOU SAY, HEY, I THINK I CAN DO THAT, YOU KNOW, AND YOU GET OUT THERE AND GET YOUR BUTT RUN OVER, AND IF YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU LIKE, THEN YOU JUST KEEP DOING IT, YOU KNOW.

IT'S KIND OF A ORE ORE IT'S AN INSTANT HIGH OR A RUSH.

I MEAN, YOU GO OUT THERE AND TRY TO MAKE AN ANIMAL THAT'S 12, 1700 POUNDS LOOK LIKE A MONKEY WITHOUT THIS ANIMAL HURTING YOU.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BOXING MATCH AND A GAME.

DON'T THINK YOU JUST GO OUT THERE AND RUN, YOU GOT TO USE YOUR HEAD.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS YOU HAVE TO WATCH FOR WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS, SUCH AS YOU WANT TO CHANGE STRIDES IF YOU CAN, YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP AND HAVE THEM BAY UP, IF YOU CAN.

YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM PLAY YOUR GAME, NOT THEIR GAME.

YOU PLAY THEIR GAME, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.

AS FAR AS THE YOU-- YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT SCHOOLS FOR BULL FIGHTERS.

YOU CAN'T TEACH SOMEBODY TO BE FUNNY.

I MEAN, EVEN WITH YOUR KIRR SUESES, YOU KNOW, BARMUN AND BAILEY HAVE SCHOOLS THAT CLOWNS GO TO, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO AD@R LIB-- YOUY TO AD@R HAVE TO BE LIKE THE CLASS COUNSEL BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T JUST GO OUT THERE AND YOU'VE BEEN THE GUY IN THE CORNER THAT NEVER SAYS A WORD AND YOU WALK OUT THERE AND HA, HA, HA, IT DOESN'T WORK, YOU KNOW.

I CAN TAKE A FUNNY GUY(2 2 TEACH HIM TO BE A BULL FIGHTER.

YOU CAN'T -- VERY FEW TIMES CAN YOU TAKE A BULL FIGHTER AND MAKE HIM FUNNY.

IT JUST DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT THAT EASY, YOU KNOW.

>> MY MOTHER IN LAW IS HERE.

SHE'S SITTING OVER HERE.

HI, HONEY.

>> WHAT YOU GOT THERE?

>> ISN'T SHE A BEAUTIFUL LADY?

>> OH, THAT'S GREAT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY.

>> BROTHER TAYLOR DOESN'T WORK ALONE.

HE HAS HIS DOG "OTAY" AND HIS MULE.

>> THIS GUY HERE IS-- HE JUST WANTS-- THEY'RE THE SMARTEST DOGS I'VE EVER TRAINED.

I CAN GET ONE OF THEM AND HE'LL ROLL OVER, YOU KNOW, WITHIN 30 MINUTES I CAN HAVE HIM DOING SOMETHING.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THE GOVERNMENT TRAPPER DEAL THAT HE'S PART OF.

THE ESCAPADE STAURTS OFF, THE GOVERNMENT TRAPPER IS LOOKING FOR THIS BIG KODIAK BEAR IN CANADA AND HE FINDS THIS ROBERT, POLE CAT OR SKUNK, WHICH IS A LITTLE DOG DRESSED UP IN A POLE CAT OUT FIT.

SO THEY HAVE A ROUND OR TWO.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHEN THE BEARS COME.

>> IT WOULD BE EASIER THAN PICKING CORN OUT OF A BUSHEL BASKET.

HA HA.

OKAY.

GET READY.

GET QUIET.

HEY, I TOLD YOU TO GET BACK DOWN IN THERE, GET BACK.

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN HE'S COMING, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN HE'S COMING.

HERE HE IS!

THE BEAR IS HERE!

THANKS FOR SELLING ME ALL THIS JUNGE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I DON'T THINK NOTHING IS COMING.

HERE HE COMES!

GO, GO, GO!

GET THE NET.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> GET BACK HERE!

>> YOU'RE ALL RIGHT NOW.

>> GET OUT OF HERE, I HATE SKUNKS.

>> THEN I GOT MY LITTLE MULE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WILL BE MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MULECYCLE, AND I'LL BE AWFUL CAN AWFUL.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT AIN'T NO HARLEY DAVIDSON?

THAT'S THE PROBLEM, WE HAD ANOTHER MISUNDERSTANDING.

>> OH, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> HE SAID HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE.

I SAID MARLEY DAVIDSON MULECYCLE.

LOOK AT IT.

>> NO, NO, NO.

>> YOU'RE A HARD MAN TO CONVINCE.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT A HARLEY DAVIDSON LOOKS LIKE.

I BET YOU NEVER SEEN ONE LIKE THIS.

I'LL SHOW YOU.

HERE WE GO.

YEAH, HARLEY DAVIDSON.

>> OH, COME ON.

COME ON, THAT'S NOT A HARLEY DAVIDSON.

>> HOW ABOUT A LOW RIDER?

[ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >> AND HE'S GOT A SCREAMING SEAT, TOO.

>> THE FINALE OF THE RODEO IS THE BULL RIDING, AND THAT'S WHEN BROTHER TAYLOR TAKES TO THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF THE BARREL.

>> THE BARREL, IT'S PADDED INSIDE, OUTSIDE, TO PROTECT THE BULLS.

IT'S VERY PADDED ON THE OUTSIDE WHERE YOU CAN'T HURT THE BULL.

BUT THE BOYS HERE, ALLAN, HE'S GETTING A DAY OR TWO ON HIM.

AND ED, HE'S GETTING ALONG.

AND THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT.

I'M SORRY, BUT I COULD STAND HERE AND TALK ABOUT OUR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AND BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, THE MONEY THEY TAKE-- DRAW COMPARED TO OUR MONEY, MAN, OURS LOOKS LIKE A CHIP AT THE LOCAL BAR.

I WOULD LIKE FOR THOSE GUYS TO STEP IN OUR SHOES ONE TIME AND SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO STEP OUT THERE FOR 450, 500, 600 DOLLARS A PERFORMANCE?

HUH-UH.

THIS AIN'T WORK TO ME.

I MAKE VERY GOOD LIVING AT IT, AND THIS ISN'T WORK.

IT'S FUN.

EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM.

THAT'S TO WORK THE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO.

I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE YET.

I'VE GOTTEN CLOSE, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, AND UNTIL YOU GET THAT, MAYBE IT'S GMAYBE THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING AT MY AGE BECAUSE I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THAT DREAM, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON IT UNTIL IT JUST FINALLY HITS ME IN THE HEAD ONE DAY THAT, HEY, YOU HAD BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE IN THIS BUSINESS AND IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> BROTHER MAY OR MAY NOT GET THE CHANCE TO WORK THE NATIONAL FINALS.

BUT JUDGING FROM THE FACES OF THE CHILDREN HE SHOOK HANDS WITH THIS NIGHT, HE'S ALREADY NUMBER ONE IN THEIR HEARTS.

>> PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR BROTHER TAILOR.

>> AFTER SPENDING THE DAY WITH BROTHER TAYLOR, WE ARE SURE HE'LL MAKE IT, ONE OF THESE DAYS, TO THE NATIONAL FINALS IN LAS VEGAS.

>>> IF ANY OF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN BUCKMINSTER FULLER WAS KING OF THE GEODESIC DOME, YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO DIG THIS NEXT SEGMENT.

IT'S ABOUT A SOUTH DAKOTA ARTIST WHO HAS SPENT THE LAST 30 YEARS PAINTING ON SPHERES WHILE LIVING IN ONE.

♪ ♪ >> NESTLED IN A SMALL GULCH AT THE FOOT OF SPEARFISH MOUNTAIN IS A COMPOUND OF GEODESIC DOMES THAT HAS BEEN HOME, STUDIO AND INSPIRATION TO SPEARFISH ARTIST DICK TERMES SINCE THE EARLY '70S.

ONE ONLY NEEDS TO SEE THE STUDIO, HOME OF THIS UNIQUE ARTIST, FROM THE AIR OR THE GROUND, TO KNOW THAT HIS WORK IS INFLUENCED BY BUCKMINSTER FULLER, THE FATHER OF THE GEODESIC DOME.

>> HE INFLUENCED ME BACK IN THE '70S WHEN HE CAME TO THE BACK HILLS AND SPOKE AT BLACK HILLS STATE.

I GOT TO TOUR HIM AROUND THE BLACK HILLS, HE AND HIS WIFE, SO I REALLY GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION ON DOMES WHILE I WAS WITH THEM, AND SO-- OR AFTER HE LEFT, IT WAS ABOUT THE FIRST THING I DID WAS BUILT A DOME FOR MYSELF, JUST TO KIND OF PLAY AROUND WITH IT.

AND THAT DOME HAS TURNED INTO THREE MORE NEXT TO IT AND ONE ON TOP OF ONE, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE FIVE DOMES HERE, AND SO HE INFLUENCED ME A LOT AS FAR AS THE HOME AND THE GALLERY AND THE STUDIO AND ALL OF THAT SPACE THAT I WORK IN AND LIVE IN.

BUT PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT, I THINK THE STUDIES OF GEOMETRY, THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPHERICAL AGREEMENT TREES, HE'S VERY WELL KNOWN FOR, ALSO.

IN FACT, THE BUCKY BALL, YOU KNOW, WAS ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER HIM BECAUSE OF HIS INCREDIBLE STUDIES THAT HE HAD DONE, SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN MY ART WORK WITH THE SPEAR CALL ART WORK BECAUSE A LOT OF MY WORK GROWS FROM GEOMETRY SYSTEMS AND TURNS INTO WHATEVER IT TURNS INTO.

>> STARTING OUT AS AN ART TEACHER, WORKING WITH PERSPECTIVES, TERMES CAME UPON THE IDEA WHICH WOULD EVOLVE OVER THE YEARS INTO HIS UNIQUE FORM OF ART: THE TERMESPHERE.

>> THE SPHERE ITSELF, YOU KNOW, THE PERSPECTIVE, THE SIX-POINT PERSPECTIVE, NO ONE HAD EVER PLAYED IN THAT AREA.

WHAT IT ALLOWS YOU TO DO IS CAPTURE TOTAL ENVIRONMENTS, COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTS AROUND YOU.

COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTS LIKE CATHEDRALS, YOU CAN GO-- I'VE GONE INTO NOTRE DAME KATHY DRA, ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL, THOSE KINDS OF ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE ENVIRONMENTS THAT YOU WALK IN AND WATCH TOURISTS, AND THEY'RE STANDING THERE SPINNING IN CIRCLES LOOKING AT THAT STUFF BECAUSE IT'S JUST AMAZING, HOW THE ARCHITECTS GOT ALL THAT STUFF TO FIT TOGETHER AND HOW INCREDIBLE IT IS.

SO IT ALLOWS ME TOO CAPTURE THOSE WORLDS.

IT ALLOWS ME TO CAPTURE TOTAL WORLDS INSIDE MY HEAD, THE COMPLETE SCENES, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S AN AREA THAT'S BEEN NOT EVER TOUCHED BEFORE.

I'D HAD ENOUGH ART HIGH TREE-- HISTORY TO WHERE I KNEW WHEN I HIT ON THIS IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE COMPLETE WORLDS, THAT THAT WAS NEW TERRITORY.

WHAT THIS NEXT TRANSPARENT BALL SHOWS OF ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL, IT'S A CLEAR BLACK PATTERN WITH A BLACK BACKGROUND.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT ON THE OUTSIDE, YOU GET THE SENSE THAT YOU'RE INSIDE THE BALL.

AND YOU-- THE PART YOU SEE IS THE CONCAVE PART RATHER THAN THE CONVENTION PART.

AND YOU THINK-- CONVEX PART, AND YOU WOULD-- YOU WOULD THINK YOU SEE THE FRONT FIRST BUT YOU SEE THE BACK PART OF IT.

WHEN YOU SEE IT AND YOU THINK IT'S CONCAVE BUT IT'S CONVEX, YOUR MIND GOES INTO CONVENTION AND THAT GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH THE SPHERES.

PEOPLE ARE REAL FASCINATED WITH THAT.

THAT PIECE REALLY SHOWS IT, THAT TRANSPARENT BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT BACK THERE ON THE CONCAVE, IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE.

>> IN JUNE OF 1998, DICK TERMES WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ESCHER CENTENNIAL CONGRESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROME.

THE CONFERENCE WAS CREATED TO CELEBRATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF M.C.

ESCHER, AN ARTIST WHOSE WORK ALSO HAS INFLUENCED TERMES.

>> THERE WERE FOUR OF US SELECTED AS ARTISTS TO JOIN ESCHER IN A SHOW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROME.

THEY HAD A MAJOR SHOWING OF HIS WORK, AND THEN THE FOUR OF US GOT TO ALSO BE PART OF THAT.

THERE WAS AN ARTIST FROM HUNGARY, ONE FROM ITALY, ONE FROM JAPAN AND MYSELF WERE PART OF THAT GROUP.

THOSE PEOPLE ALSO GOT TO SPEAK, WERE MAIN SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS, AS WELL AS GEORGE ESCHER, M.C.

ESCHER'S SON, AND MANY MAT MA TISSUE ANSWER AND PSYCHOLOGISTS.

IT WAS JUST REALLY AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

I DON'T THINK I MISSED ONE SPEECH BY ANYBODY.

>> ONE OF THE THREE TERMESPHERES FEATURED AT THE CONFERENCE WAS TITLED "ESCHER TO THE THIRD POWER," A PIECE THAT WAS WELL RECEIVED BY GEORGE ESCHER, M.C.

ESCHER'S SONE.

>> IN FACT, I DID MY LECTURE, BASICALLY, OFF OF THIS PIECE, AND WITH THE IDEA OF WHY WAS ESCHER FASCINATED WITH THE MIR YORD BALL, AND NO ONE HAD REALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS VERY MUCH THAT I HAD SEEN IN ANY BOOKS, BUT MY PRESUMPTION WAS HE WAS INTERESTED IN CAPTURING TOTAL VISUAL SPACE, BECAUSE THE MIRRORED BALL, WHEN YOU STUDY A MIRRORED BALL, YOU SEE THE COMPLETE-- IN FACT, GEORGE ESCHER'S SON TOLD ME THIS, AFTER I GAVE HIM A-- AN EXPLANATION THAT WASN'T VERY CLEAR, HE SAID, NO, THIS IS REALLY WHY MY FATHER WAS INTERESTED IN THE MIRRORED BALL, BECAUSE IT REFLECTS EVERYTHING.

IF YOU STUDY THE MIRRORED BALL, EVEN AT THAT EDGE, IT'S VERY, VERY HIGHLY DISTORTED.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT IT, IT HAS IMAGES IN IT THAT ARE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BALL, AND THE ONLY PART THAT'S MISSING IS WHAT'S JUST RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES, YOU KNOW, JUST THE BALL ITSELF IS THE ONLY STUFF THAT ISN'T REFLECTED IN THAT BALL.

AND THAT'S WHAT ESCHER WAS REALLY FASCINATED WITH, WHICH MAKES ME SAY THAT ESCHER WAS THEN INTERESTED IN CAPTURING TOTAL VISUAL SPACE, JUST LIKE MY SPHERES DO.

THE OTHER PIECE OF THE FINISHING ESCHER WAS A MORE GEOMETRY PIECE, WHY I GAVE CREDIT TO ESCHER ON THAT WAS HE DID A STUDY THAT USED THIS KIND OF A STRUCTURE THAT ENDED UP TURNING INTO THE PIECE THAT HE DID WITH THE LITTLE ROLLY GUY, THE GUYS THAT ROLLED DOWN THE STAIRS.

I'LL SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF THAT, BUT THEY ROLLED DOWN THESE STAIRS, BUT THE STRUCTURE THAT-- HOW HE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT PICTURE CAME FROM THIS REALLY SAME STRUCTURE AS WHAT I DID THE SPHERE OUT OF.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, THE PANTEON, ACTUALLY, I TOOK THAT BECAUSE WE WERE IN ROME, REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ESCHER, BUT HE WAS FASCINATED WITH-- HE DID DO A PIECE OF ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL, JUST A DRAWING FROM IT FROM WAY UP LOOKING DOWN INSIDE THE FLOOR, SO I KNEW HE WAS FASCINATED WITH THOSE KINDS OF INTERIORS, AND HE REALLY CAPTURED A LOT OF THE INTERIOR ON THE FLAT SURFACE.

BUT THE PANTHEON IS JUST LIKE THE GYM OF ROME, AND I JUST FINISHED IT AND I REALLY WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THEM OVER THERE.

IT WAS A BIG HIT.

I MEAN, PEOPLE REALLY LIKED IT.

I THINK THEY WENT OVER INCREDIBLELY WELL.

I HAD-- I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH, WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE GALLERY LIKE THAT, WHERE THEY TEND TO GO AND-- I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH HOW MANY OF THEM WERE OVER LOOKING AT THE SPHERES MOST OF THE TIME.

I SHOULDN'T BRAG ABOUT THAT, BUT IT WAS VERY NEAT, AND I-- GEORGIA ESCHER, I GOT GEORGE ESCHER TO HOLD THE SPHERE WITH HIS HANDS.

WHAT WAS NEAT ABOUT IT WAS, IT WAS LIKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN HIS FATHER AND HIM THROUGH THE BALL, WHICH IS ALMOST MYSTERIOUS, IN A WAY, THE-- WHEN HE WAS HOLDING ON TO THAT, MADE ME GO, WHOA, THERE'S CONNECTIONS HERE, YOU KNOW?

>> JUST BECAUSE WE ARE A RURAL STATE DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE WITHIN OUR BORDERS.

THE WORKS OF DICK TERMES ARE BEING SHOWN AROUND THE COUNTRY, IN EUROPE, AND ARE EVEN POPULAR IN JAPAN.

>>> SPEAKING OF TALENT, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE ALL WISHED WE COULD CHASE OUR DREAMS, PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD AND WORK TO MAKE THEM COME TRUE?

FOR A GROUP OF TALENTED KIDS JUST OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR PARENTS.

♪ ♪ >> WITHIN A HEARTBEAT, THEY SEIZE YOUR ATTENTION.

THEY SHOW NO MERCY AS THEIR KINETIC PERFORMANCE OVERLOADS YOUR SENSES WITH PURE ENERGY.

THEY ARE YOUNG, THEY ARE DRIVEN, THEY ARE THE SUFUDU DRUM LINE.

>> BORN OUT OF A MUTUAL DESIRE TO CONTINUE PLAYING DRUMS TOGETHER AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, A SMALL GROUP OF FRIENDS STRUCK ON A NOTION.

>> THE FIRST YEAR WAS JUST KIND OF AN IDEA OF SOME DRUMMERS WANTED TO GET TOGETHER TO PLAY DURING THE SUMMER.

AND, AH, AFTER SCHOOL GOT OUT, SO THEY WEREN'T PLAYING IN HIGH SCHOOL BAND ANYMORE, SO THEY WANTED TO KEEP DRUMMIN'.

SO WE PUT THIS GROUP TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO PLAY AROUND THE AREA, GET ALL THE STUFF TOGETHER, AND PEOPLE SEEMED TO LIKE IT SO WE JUST KEPT ON GOING WITH IT.

>> AND SO A SIMPLE DESIRE TO DRUM BLOSSOMS INTO A GROUP OF PERFORMERS WHO PRACTICE WEEKLY TO PERFECT THEIR CRAFT.

UNLIKE A DRUM CORPS, A DRUM LINE IS FREE OF THE RIGID RESTRICTIONS OF UNIFORM MOVEMENT.

A DRUM LINE IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT, NOT COMPETITION.

AS A RESULT OF THIS PHILOSOPHY, THE MEMBERS OF THE DRUM LINE HAVE GREAT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND ARE LIMITED ONLY BY THEIR CREATIVITY.

>> WE CAME UP WITH EVERYTHING OURSELVES.

THE MUSIC IS WRITTEN BY US, WE PUT ALL THE CADENCES TOGETHER, AND AS WE PUT ALL THE DIFFERENT CADENCES TOGETHER, WE ADD IN DIFFERENT VIRBLS AND DIFFERENT AUDIBLES.

THAT'S WHEN WE START GETTING WILD AND CREATIVE.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE OT THE DRUM LINE, AND IT INVOLVES SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE DESTINED TO BECOME SUFUDU'S MOST DEVOTED FANS.

THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION FELL NICELY UPON THE EAGER SHOULDERS OF THE GROUP'S PARENTS.

>> WE DO THE FUNDRAISING, WE SCHEDULE THE EVENTS.

WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT COMMITTEES THAT WORK WITH EQUIPMENT TO FOOD; ON A TRIP, TO SCHEDULING, PROMOTIONS, PRODUCTS.

WE EVEN OPENED UP A LINE OF PRODUCTS THIS YEAR.

WE'RE SELLING TEE SHIRTS AND BUTTONS.

>> THEIR POPULARITY EVER INCREASING, THE DRUM LINE NOW REQUIRES THE CAREFUL ORCHESTRATION OF SCHEDULING.

>> THEY'RE CALLING AND WANTING US TO PERFORM NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THEY THINK IF THEY CALL FIRST, THEY'LL BE FIRST ON THE LIST, BUT WE PLAN OUR SCHEDULE SO WE CAN TAKE MORE PARADES IN A DAY.

>> THE BUSY SUMMER SCHEDULE OF SUFUDU KEEPS BOTH PARENTS AND PLAYERS STEPPING IN DOUBLE TIME.

>> I'M TAKING SUMMER SCHOOL, SO I'M TAKING THAT ALL WEEK, AND THEN WEEKENDS I'M GONE WITH SUFUDU.

SO I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A LIFE BESIDES SCHOOL AND SUFUDU, BUT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

I REALLY LIKE SUFUDU.

>> PLAYING IN SUFUDU MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ALL THE DRUMMERS.

IN ORDER TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY, THEY FIRST HAVE TO AUDITION.

I WASN'T SURE I'D MAKE IT 'CUZ MOST KIDS WERE OLDER THAN I WAS, 'CUZ THEY SAID AGE 15 WAS THE MINIMUM AND I WAS JUST 15 THEN.

SO I WAS A LITTLE AFRAID I WOULDN'T MAKE IT, BUT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT FINE.

>> I WAS REAL HAPPY.

IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE, JUST ABOUT.

>> WHEN SOME PLAYERS MAKE IT IN, THEY WILL MANIPULATE THEIR WORK SCHEDULE TO FIT AROUND THEIR PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE.

>> I EXPLAINED TO HIM WHEN I WAS HIRED THAT HE'D HAVE TO BE PRETTY FLEXIBLE TO WORK AROUND THIS 'CUZ THIS IS A PRIORITY OVER MY WORK, BUT I WORK AS MUCH AS I CAN, WHICH IS A LOT.

BUT I STILL HAVE TIME FOR SUFUDU.

I ALWAYS MAKE TIME FOR SUFUDU.

>> MAKING TIME FOR THIS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS A COMMON THREAD SHARED BY THE PERFORMERS AND THE PARENTS.

THEY ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THIS VENTURE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ENJOY THEIR WORK.

>> NONE OF THE PLAYERS RECEIVE A SALARY.

THEY'RE DOING THIS FOR THEIR LOVE OF PERCUSSION AND THEIR ENJOYMENT OF THE GROUP.

WE DO CHARGE FOR NORMAL CELEBRATIONS, AND THAT MONEY GOES BACK STRICTLY INTO EXPENSES AND EQUIPMENT.

>> AND THERE ARE EXPENSES.

BESIDES THE INITIAL START-UP LOAN THAT WAS USED TO PURCHASE THEIR DRUMS, THEY ALSO HAD TO PURCHASE UNIFORMS, PAY TRAVEL EXPENSES AND OTHER ASSORTED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING THEIR ORGANIZATION.

SO IF NO ONE GETS PAID, WHY DO THEY PARTICIPATE?

HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR REASONS.

>> I GUESS I'M ADDICTED TO THE DRUM LINE.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS HERE, BUT A LOT OF FRIENDS-- I HATE TO SEE THEM LEAVE SO I'VE GOT TO COME BACK AND SEE THEM AGAIN.

>> YOU LEARN DIFFERENT THINGS FROM EVERYBODY.

YOU KIND OF GET TO SEE HOW EVERYBODY'S LIKE, AND IT'S FUN.

YOU MAKE DIFFERENT FRIENDS AND GET CLOSE WITH OTHER.

>> JUST PLAYING FOR THE PEOPLE, SEEING THE REACTION, JUST CROWD REACTION, SEE THEM GET INTO IT, THAT JUST KIND OF-- WHEN YOU SEE THEM LAUGHING, GIGGLING AND RUNNING AROUND DANCING AND STUFF, IT JUST MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE.

>> IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO COME BACK AND SEE THE CALIBER YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING WITH.

IT VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

PLUS, ALL MY FRIENDS ARE IN THE LINE, THAT ALWAYS KEEPS ME COMING BACK.

>> AND WHEN YOU ASK A DRUMMER WHO SHOULD RECEIVE THE MOST PRAISE FOR THEIR WORK, THE ANSWER COMES WITHOUT HESITATION.

>> WE LOVE THE PARENTS.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE PARENTS.

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH THEY PUT INTO THIS, THEY PUT SO MUCH TIME INTO IT BEHIND THE SCENES.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE US PERFORM IN ALL.

BASICALLY THEY SEE THE DRUMS, THE PLAYERS, AND HOW MUCH FUN WE'RE HAVING, AND WHATEVER ELSE.

YOU KNOW THEY DON'T SEE WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.P THE PARENTS ARE THE ONES WHO-- THEY HELPED US GET THE DRUMS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I CAME TO-- HELPED PURCHASE THE DRUMS, WHATEVER THEY DO.

HELPED WITH TRANSPORTATION, HELPED WITH WATER.

PEOPLE PASS OUT, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE THERE TO TAKE CARE CARE OF US.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A BIG HATS-OFF TO THEM, AND WE LOVE THEM.

>> AND IT SEEMS THE PARENTS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE KIDS.

IN FACT, THEY ARE PROBABLY AS DILIGENT IN RECRUITING PEOPLE TO JOIN THE ORGANIZATION AS THE PLAYERS ARE.

>> I'D LIKE FOR THE PARENTS TO COME OUT AND WATCH SUFUDU PERFORM AND SEE THE FUN THEY HAVE, AND HAVE THEIR CHILD OR STUDENT TRY OUT FOR THE GROUP.

>> NOT ONLY DO THE KIDS HAVE FUN.

I THINK ALL THE PARENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SUFUDU IN THE PAST AND PRESENT HAVE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH THE KIDS.

GOOD FOR THE PARENTS AS WELL AS FOR THE KIDS.

♪ ♪ >> SUFUDU PERFORMS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND FESTIVALS THROUGHOUT THE TRI-STATE AREA, SO TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR ROUTINE AND CATCH ONE OF THEIRS.

>>> WELL, THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "DAKOTA LIFE."

WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THE PROGRAM.

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE SHOW, OR IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE OR SOMEPLACE INTERESTING THAT YOU THINK MIGHT MAKE FOR A GOOD SEGMENT, YOU CAN CONTACT US BY EMAIL AT: DAKOTA [email protected].

OR YOU CAN CALL US AT 1-888-TALK-PTV (V).

THAT'S 1-877-825-5788(V).

I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE JOURNEY ACROSS THIS GREAT STATE OF OURS, SEARCHING FOR SIGNS OF "DAKOTA LIFE."

FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION, I'M MICHELL VAN MAANEN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪ ♪ CLOSED-CAPTIONING BY PARADIGM REPORTING & CAPTIONING; LISA RICHARDSON, RPR, CRR.