Kimberly Dark - "The Gayness: Love and Hate in America"

see link - April 2011 - Penn State University

I attended three of Kimberly Dark's performances/workshops: "Is That A Dude? Gender Disruption: There's More to it Than You Think"; "Gender, Race and Money", and "Complicated Courtesies".

The first of these involved an examination of the gender binary and its impact on society's tolerance for gender variance and its perceptions of sexuality. Through a combination of discussion, interactive exercises, and a series of incisive and insightful personal stories, Ms. Dark makes an excellent case that misogyny still lurks in our culture, informing society's views of sexuality at a level that for most of us is unconscious. The audience for this workshop was mostly LGBT students, so the message may have largely been "preaching to the choir", but I personally found that having this dynamic revealed, and having language put to it so that the argument can begin to be made to others is greatly empowering. And regardless of whether attendees got the message, were transformed by it, or even agreed with it, I cannot believe that anyone could attend this workshop and not be left with a great deal of food for thought.

Gender, Race, and Money was a radically different kind of discussion. Rather than dealing with abstract intangibles such as gender and sexuality, this was a very down-to-earth exploration of the realities of personal finance in the context of race, sex, and social class. The conversation began with a discussion of the difference between assets and wealth. Then using this important distinction, Ms. Dark engaged the audience with a series of interactive and highly effective visual exercises that portrayed the differences in opportunity among people from different racial backgrounds, different social classes, and between males and females. Throughout, the audience was encouraged to view their own assets and potential for wealth in terms that give an important dose of reality to college students, especially to those from disenfranchised groups. And yet this was not done in a way that was at all disheartening or pessimistic. In fact, all of Ms. Dark's messages are profoundly positive and affirming, and it is this ability to approach and deconstruct a negative social dynamic in such constructive and encouraging terms that leaves such a striking impression.

Finally, Complicated Courtesies was an immensely fun series of well told personal stories that invites you to consider carefully whether there are facets of your personality that you are keeping to yourself unnecessarily, or are clumsy about expressing, and encourages you to be yourself, gracefully and lovingly. Again, there are so many messages in this performance that it is hard to imagine anyone who comes away from it merely entertained. Ms. Dark explores deep themes, topics that are difficult to talk about, feelings we don't like to admit having, or even feelings we don't like to admit seeing in others. And yet, she is able to address all of this with humor and grace, exposing the more ridiculous aspects of our society so that we can all recognize them for what they are, laugh at them, and hopefully move on.

I thoroughly enjoyed these performances, and came away from each entertained, educated, and extremely thoughtful. My head stayed full during the drive home following each performance, and the themes stayed with me long after I got home and thoroughly discussed them with my partner.

Dr. Annika Miller, Math Professor - [OCT 2011] Susquehanna University

"[Dark lays her] stories bare for all to see, in a way that is both refreshing and challenging: refreshing because they deal with issues that are often hidden and get short shrift in the world of entertainment; and challenging because they expose some harsh realities of modern social structures and ask the viewer to find the humor in them."

-Hawaii Island Journal

"...we relax and let her sensual voice recite the very well-written, well-thought out poems... Kimberly Dark is the voice you heard that time you saw the one you knew you couldn't have, the instant you realized all your dreams had come true, and the poetry is the answer to the question you ask everyday. Yes."

-Muse Apprentice Guild

"Dark's powerful feminine stage presence and poetic style held the audience transfixed from start to finish as she spoke on gender..."

-Nouveau Queer Montreal

"Dark's love poems are candid... and helped earn her an enthusiastic standing ovation from an audience of several hundred."

- San Diego Union Tribune

"She doesn't emulate other people's style; she doesn't mimic what you think poetry is. Her voice is literary and sensual...It's unafraid. It's assertive and yet can be very tender. She's very dramatic and is definitely a performance poet..

- Southern California Gay and Lesbian Times - various