Using filtering API on a hidden datatable.. possible?

I have a unique usage (at least as far as I can tell based on the lack of other folks doing something similar) of datatables to where I'm using datatables for its filtering/sorting/paging functionality, but retrieving the data and running the returned table row data into a mustache template to create a non-tabular layout of the data (basically turning the tabular data/layout into a nicely formatted list from that datatable data using fnGetData and fnGetFilteredData plugin that Allan created a while back). So in order to do this, I have a datatable on the page as well as my mustache template (using ICanHaz.js for doing this). Everything works great.. until I HIDE the container that holds the datatable.. Is it possible to interact with a datatable even when it is hidden with a simple display:none on the table element (or even on some outer parent container to the main datatable table element)?

Thanks for your help. If code samples would help, please let me know what I'd need to post.

-replicant