CUNY Dance Initiative and LaGuardia Performing Arts Center Present the World Premiere of Alien of Extraordinary by Sun Kim Dance Theatre, November 9
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (November 6, 2025) — LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY, in partnership with the CUNY Dance Initiative, proudly presents the world premiere of Alien of Extraordinary, a powerful new dance theatre work by acclaimed choreographer Sun Kim and her company, Sun Kim Dance Theatre, on Sunday, November 9, 5 p.m., in LPAC’s Little Theater.
Tickets: General admission is $20; student tickets are $10. A $2 convenience fee applies to each ticket. Purchase tickets here or visit the LPAC website.
Inspired by the complexities of the U.S. artist visa process, Alien of Extraordinary transforms bureaucracy into art, while unfolding the deeply human stories behind the “alien of extraordinary ability” (O-1) visa. Through street dance and theatre, Kim, a South Korean immigrant, reclaims language often used to marginalize and instead crafts a vivid portrait of resilience, belonging, and creative identity.
Performed by a cast of eight dancers and featuring original music by klezmer musician and composer Michael Winograd, Alien of Extraordinary invites audiences into an empathetic and imaginative journey. It celebrates the power of movement to transcend borders and bureaucracy.
Sun Kim is an award-winning dancer, choreographer, artistic director, and educator from South Korea, specializing in popping—a street dance form that fuses precision and storytelling. A 2025 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in Choreography and recipient of the 2022 Harlem Stage Emerging Artist Award, Kim has performed with Cirque du Soleil and on Broadway’s Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. She has collaborated with artists and brands including Madonna, Elton John, Nike, and Gap. Her works have been presented at Jacob’s Pillow, Harlem Stage, Breakin’ Convention, and Burning Man at Sotheby’s.
Following the performance, LPAC Artistic Director Handan Ozbilgin will moderate a conversation with Sun Kim and attorney J. Brian Cho, who specializes in the O-1 visa process. The discussion will offer insight into the intersections of immigration, artistry, and advocacy.
Alien of Extraordinary was created with the support of a Works & Process Residency at Modern Accord Depot (NY). Its presentation is part of Sun Kim Dance Theatre’s residency at LPAC, made possible through the CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI)––a program that provides New York City choreographers and dance companies with creative residencies across CUNY campuses. Now in its second decade, CDI has supported more than 275 residencies, becoming a vital force in New York City’s cultural ecosystem and giving artists the space and time to create transformative new work.
CDI receives major support from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation and Howard Gilman Foundation, with additional support from the SHS Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s Charles E. Culpeper Arts & Culture Program, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, and the Harkness Foundation for Dance. The initiative is spearheaded by the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College. Learn more at www.cuny.edu/danceinitiative.
Event Details:
What: World premiere of Alien of Extraordinary by Sun Kim Dance Theatre
When: Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Where: Little Theater at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, 45-50 Van Dam St, Long Island City, NY 11101
Tickets: General admission is $20; student tickets are $10. A $2 convenience fee applies to each ticket. Purchase tickets here or visit the LPAC website.
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC), located at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY, is a cultural hub that fosters artistic excellence, education, and community engagement. LPAC is dedicated to providing a platform for dynamic artists and storytellers to create, collaborate, and inspire. Through diverse programming, LPAC continues to support its mission of making the arts accessible to all. It is the stage for productions of the award-winning Theater and Music Performance programs of LaGuardia Community College, as well as works from partner institutions, including Carnegie Hall, Joffrey Ballet School, and the Drama League of New York.
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