Doline: Emerging into the Light

Deliberate and Poetic

Kim masterfully weaves together strong and elegant movement with stories, thoughts, and poetic patterns. His performance is thought provoking, tender, and very human. This one person performance is both intimate and expansive and Kim's presence is beautifully committed and exquisite.

Here for the movement

What I love about fringe, is the opportunity to see shows that are told without the worry of "selling." You don't get the opportunity to see work like this at big-time theaters here. Didn't connect the dots on some aspects, but overall, big fan of the physical storytelling.

Professional in every way

AirBNB reviews ask us to assess how well the actual description aligned with our experience. And to use that criteria, the description of Doline ("modern dance," storytelling, non-verbal) hit the nail on the head. It was a very professional dance and spoken word: Kim is a great dancer with a beautiful voice. I struggle with reviews like this, since I have two audiences 1) the artist; and 2) other Fringe attendees. As to #1, Kim was professional in every way. As to #2, the concept and show was a bit abstract for me. Reread the description: "Doline is a sinkhole where loss is encountered; but, it can also reference the openings in underground caves where light infiltrates the darkness. This one man show of dance and text explores this dichotomy."

Real, raw and beautifully done.

The right words are hard to come by in this beautiful performance by Kim. I’m not new to the arts but his performance really spoke to me and drew me into a glimpse of his life story. I feel so honored to have been a part of that tonight and hope to share in many more performances in the future!

Be Mesmerized

A talented artist who brings a lifetime of experience to create a moment of deep reflection, vulnerability, and wisdom; Kim tells his personal story through movement and word with restrained power, singular grace, and flashes of humor. Come be mesmerized by the power of a body in motion and learn, once again, how the story of another is also your own.

Intimate Journey: Valley of the Soul

Kim takes you on a journey that captures you emotionally, kinesthetically, and personally. It is easy to find connections to your own life story through his vulnerability, humor, and authenticity. Highly recommend this multifaceted expression of love, light, depth, and motion.

A Great Circle

Great story arc told through movement, voice, and silence. Very poignant lessons from life taught in this piece. We moved in a great circle, experiencing life in someone else's shoes and all ended back in the same place we started. Thanks for the glimpse into your life, Kim!

A life lived-Living…

Kim does an amazing job telling his life story about self discovery, living through judgment, pain, loss and through it all, his appreciation for a life lived. His use of dance, spoken word and humor takes you on a roller coaster of emotions throughout his journey. Wipe a tear, smile, perhaps both at the same time. This performance will do that to you! Well done!

Exquisite

I am Deaf so this review is entirely about the visual/kinesthetic experience of watching this show. This show had me at: beautiful movement in a dramatic pool of light. You can tell the lifetime of dance that exists in Kim. He embodies space and time so exquisitely. Knowing the title, knowing that John Donne is referenced and seeing the movement, my brain had a lot of fun finding meaning and connection to this solo dancer on stage, in relation to the light and to us. It's a slower show, but if you can tune yourself to it's rhythm you will be well rewarded!

Beautifully conceived and executed

This performance builds as it starts, in a circular light. Nofsinger introduces themes through words and movement that elicit questions. Spiraling back around, he builds context and meaning gradually, in overlays. The results is a completely satisfying and engaging journey, at once both personal and shared, since we are all walking this same path called life. Patience pays off in the hands of this gifted choreographer and storyteller.

For a rare dance form, you must see this

This is from seeing show #1. In one sentence: watch a movement-based storyteller share poetic choreography, tastefully shifting it into a script with a little too much repetition but then turned into a superbly told memoir. In three sentences: this one person show holds like the performer’s beginning position : a little stiff, a little awkward, yet mesmerizing given the slow motion movement. A show for folks to see the importance of moving on and not moving on as you age, you must walk into this show with an open mind ready to sit in some confusion and resolve mostly all of it by the end. The choice to see is yours . . . but if you want to slow down and see a rare form of dance work, it’s worth the watch.

threw me for a loop, in a beautiful way

this is the kind of show you’re going to think about long after you’ve watched it. everyone gets stuck in these trauma loops, and struggles to find their way out. then, it’s hard to connect with other people because you’ve been sucked into a dark hole. beautiful movement, really well done

Between the Pauses & Dashes

Between the pauses and the dashes, from birth until death, stories unfold through movement and spoken word. Sit with the pauses, sink into the hole. I love the combination of dance and story, as experienced with Kim Neal Nofsinger in a unique style. Life is not linear. We move back and forth, again and again. The movement, the angst of not fitting in, losses, death, finding one’s own light from which to emerge. Not only dance, but individual movements, repeated with the same words, yet different each time. Take this journey with Kim. You will be glad you did.

Beautiful and contemplative

Absolutely loved the use of light in this piece, and how you literally used every muscle to tell this story. The dash imagery was also really effective. Thank you for sharing this with us. Much love to you.

Evocative Movement

A black space. Light. The human body. Though the production is spare, the big themes, ideas and emotions it pulls upon are not. This piece captures the push and pull of an individual's personal journey from beginning of life towards the end and challenges the audience to recognize their own connections in relation to the performer, other audience members, and the world at large. Moving, yet hopeful, this production resonates well after the final bow.

Submerge into a space of intent and revelation

Through dance, spoken word and the quiet space of introspection and revelation, Kim relates his story and insights from a place of subterranean light and dark. Beginning from his place of origin in rural WI, he shares the challenges that lead him out into the world to find himself and hone the skills and talents that bring him to be the patinaed elder we witness on stage. The measured pace of this piece slows the breathing and heart rate to reveal and remind us of the sacredness of our own journeys. Kim's performance, and unexpected gift.

Essential Fringe Experience

This is the kind of show that I would never see outside of the Fringe. Every year, I try to make sure to include a show or two like this, that falls outside of my usual comedic improv frame of reference. This is a different kind of show being told with very different tools/methods. It's the availability of shows like this that make the Fringe magical for me and this show delivers on that promise. It's abstract, thoughtful and very well executed.

Intentional Story Telling in a Non-linear Plane

Kim's use of text is very intentional. His story telling is in itself a dance. The show is picture that comes into focus as you watch it. There are small glances away from the main story to help add humor and color to the overall work. The work is very much like a drawing, that starts with a sketch - an idea and theme. Then shading is added to create depth- his personal history. Finally, Color - his humor, movement, and voice complete the wonderful tableau. It's a fantastic journey into the performer's life, sprinkled with sagely advice. Thank you for the wonderful experience, Kim.