Sun Kim Brings Alien of Extraordinary to NYC
Mia Macfarlane
Sun Kim brings her singular fusion of popping, theatre, and immigrant truth to the stage. With her latest work, she turns immigration paperwork into movement poetry. The world premiere of Alien of Extraordinary takes place on November 9 at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City, NY.
Reclaiming the “Alien” Label—And Dismantling Bureaucracy Through Dance
No one moves like Sun Kim. More significantly, no one turns movement into message the way she does.
In Alien of Extraordinary, Kim channels her lived experience into a genre-defying dance theatre piece. The work confronts the U.S. artist visa process—specifically the O-1 visa designation, which classifies certain creatives as “aliens of extraordinary ability.” Although the term sounds flattering, it reduces entire human journeys to checkboxes and cold bureaucratic language.
From Visa Code to Visceral Storytelling
At its core, Alien of Extraordinary reclaims a label meant to alienate. Instead of shrinking under it, Kim transforms the legal classification into a stunning visual and emotional reckoning.
Her weapon of choice? Popping—a street dance style defined by isolation, precision, and rhythm. Through this language of resistance, she and a cast of eight dancers bring the hidden emotional labor of immigration to the surface. Additionally, the piece is set to an original score from klezmer composer Michael Winograd, whose sound adds layers of tradition and urgency.
As a result, the performance becomes much more than choreography. It evolves into a poetic act of survival—and a cultural indictment.
Sun Kim: From Seoul Battles to Broadway Stages
To fully grasp the stakes, you have to understand Sun Kim’s journey.
Raised in South Korea, she started breaking and popping at just 12 years old. After relocating to New York in 2011, she quickly rose through the underground battle circuit—competing in Step Ya Game Up and representing the U.S. at the UK B-Boy Championships.
Since then, her portfolio has exploded. She’s performed with Cirque Du Soleil, choreographed for Madonna, Nike, Phish, and Golden Goose, and currently appears in Cabaret on Broadway. Moreover, in 2025, she received the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in Choreography, following a Bessie Award nomination and Harlem Stage Emerging Artist Award.
Even with this recognition, Kim isn’t focused on prestige. Instead, she’s creating space. Through Sun Kim Dance Theatre (SKDT), she amplifies voices often silenced—especially those of immigrant artists and street dancers navigating systemic barriers.
A Show That Doesn’t End With the Final Bow
What sets this premiere apart is what happens afterward. Immediately following the performance, a live discussion will feature Sun Kim, immigration attorney J. Brian Cho, and LPAC Artistic Director Handan Ozbilgin. The post-show conversation, moderated for deeper insight, will examine the intersections of creativity, immigration, and identity.
Unlike typical talkbacks, this one invites the audience into the story. In doing so, it extends the work’s impact beyond the stage and into the real world.
Why CUNY Dance Initiative Continues to Lead
Without the CUNY Dance Initiative, this piece would not exist in its current form. Since 2014, CDI has granted over 275 residencies to choreographers across 14 CUNY campuses. These opportunities do more than provide rehearsal space—they create a sustainable ecosystem for creative risk-taking and community engagement.
Alien of Extraordinary was born during one of those residencies. Furthermore, it received development support through a Works & Process Residency at Modern Accord Depot. Thanks to these institutional backings, the work lands with both technical precision and emotional weight.
Why Alien of Extraordinary Demands Your Attention
Sun Kim doesn’t just choreograph—she confronts. Alien of Extraordinary is essential viewing for anyone who has questioned identity, citizenship, or the systems that attempt to define worth.
This is dance as protest. As personal archive. As defiance in motion.
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Long Island City
November 9, 5:00pm
$20 General Admission / $10 Students/
Get Tickets Here
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One day when I was barely two my mom let me push her out of her bedroom. She was curious so she ran outside the house so she could watch me through the window. I climbed up on a chair by her vanity and started putting on her makeup. I loved playing dress up as a kid. Putting on my mom's sequin tube tops and high heeled shoes and then putting on a dance show in the lobby or the restaurant of the hotel/residence we lived in. It was the best childhood ever. Dress-up, dancing, playing with barbies, and drawing were my favorite things to do. I have not changed one bit today. If I am creating I am happy.
Now I am in Paris for the second time in my life and I am having a ball playing with my partner in crime Julien Crouigneau. We founded IRK Magazine together in 2015 and we are proud to collaborate with some amazing artists, and influencers.
We are also a photography duo under the pseudonym French Cowboy. We love to tell stories and create poetic images that are impactful.
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