The Special Olympics rolls around once a year, but for about 35 developmentally disabled athletes who performed at Northwestern on Tuesday night, the spirit of the games lasts all year.

“The Heartbreakers” danced and lip-synced in the Norris Louis Room to promote Special Olympics in the spring.

Decked out in elaborate costumes, The Heartbreakers performed a multicultural “Parade of Dancers,” a foot-thumping rendition of “Cotton Eyed Joe,” and a 1950s-style “Twist,” to name a few. Costumes included a dreadlocked Bob Marley and a convincing John Travolta in a white leisure suit.

NU student volunteers for Special Olympics brought The Heartbreakers to campus. The volunteers said they were happy with the show, which also featured NU a cappella groups Aural Fixation and Asterick.

“Both sides of the coin seemed to be having a good time,” said Weinberg sophomore Peter Johnson, a Special Olympics coaching coordinator.

After warming up the audience, The Heartbreakers joined the crowd. Judging from their reactions, they especially enjoyed Asterick’s performance of the Together song “Calculus.”

“The event was a good blend of talent, bringing two communities together,” Johnson said.

While the show was about 20 minutes late starting, the crowd was entertained by Coaching Coordinator Andrzej Moyseowicz, who played his guitar and encouraged the audience to get involved in Special Olympics.

“Sometimes, especially around midterms, you start to lose perspective, but then you go and coach for two hours and you come back totally revitalized,” Moyseowicz, a McCormick senior, told the crowd.

Terry Morrison, a Special Olympics athlete who emceed the show, said The Heartbreakers worked on their dances for months. The Heartbreakers are a traveling act, but Morrison said NU is his favorite place to perform.

“It was great,” Morrison said Tuesday.

Other Special Olympics events before the actual games in the spring include a Valentine’s Day dance, a sports night and a karaoke night.