As a professional performance poet, Dana has appeared on seasons 3 and 4 of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam where she received several standing ovations. She was blessed to have shared the Def Jam stage with artists such as Mos Def, Kanye West, and WyClef-Jean. Her work has also allowed her to open up for artist such as Anthony Hamilton. Her feature performance at Kansas City’s well-renowned Blue Room located in the historic 18th and Vine district was a sold-out show.

It was her involvement in the fertile Atlanta spoken word scene where she first found a larger audience, which led to the debut of her most ambitious works, becoming wildly popular and earning her the privilege to join the elite circle of poets featured on Russell Simmon’s HBO’s Def Poetry (Season 3). There she delivered the debut national performance of her landmark work “Wife, Woman, Friend.” Both critics and fans alike were floored by the powerful combination of raw emotion, delicate phrasing and mind-bending metaphors that have become her hallmark. She cemented her popularity a year later with a return visit to Def Poetry Jam (Season 4), where again she astounded the live and television audiences with her now-signature style of poetry with the sequel, “Wife, Woman, Friend Part II”. Soon, the word was out that Dana Gilmore showcased a deeply personal style of performance that earned her the signature: The Heart of Spoken Word. Arresting themes of romantic relationships and urban realities; it is her own vision—spiritual, emotional, personal, and full of wisdom, that is reflected in an artist who is comfortable with who she is and how far she has come.

With regular showcases at National Association of Collegiate Activities (NACA), Dana has since broadened her performance experience by annually touring America’s colleges and universities conducting feature one-woman shows that include Spoken Word, dialogue, and comedy at numerous colleges and universities.