La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Presents Sun Kim Dance Theatre’s Alien of Extraordinary

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club will present Alien of Extraordinary by Sun Kim Dance Theatre as part of the 21st annual La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival. Performances are April 23 and 24 at 7pm in The Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 E. 4th Street. Tickets are $30 (general), $25 (students/seniors), with a $50 Support the Artists ticket option. Tickets are available here. Festival packages start at $45 and are available at https://ci.ovationtix.com/42/store/packages. Additionally, the first 10 tickets of each performance are $10 (limit 2 per person).

Alien of Extraordinary is a dance-theatre work by Sun Kim that unpacks the emotional and bureaucratic labyrinth of the U.S. artist visa system. Inspired by the “alien of extraordinary ability” (O-1) visa and Sun’s lived experience navigating it as an immigrant and street dance artist specializing in popping, the piece examines how institutions compress complex human lives into paperwork and proof. Blending dancing, acting, live music and audience interaction, the work invites viewers to step directly into the immigrant artist’s reality—literally and imaginatively. Through vulnerability, resilience, and sharp physicality, Alien of Extraordinary creates a shared space where empathy replaces abstraction, and policy becomes personal. It is both a critique of systems that demand “extraordinary” worth and a celebration of the humanity that exceeds any form.

Sun Kim, a Korean-born dancer and choreographer, is known for her innovative and expressive dance style. She's received several accolades, including 2025 NYSCA/NYFA fellowship in choreography, the 2022 Emerging Artist Award at Harlem Stage and the 2022 Bessie Awards nomination. Sun's diverse experiences have shaped her distinctive approach to creating, leading her to establish Sun Kim Dance Theatre. SKDT has performed at Works & Process Guggenheim, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, New Victory Theater, Battery Dance Festival, San Francisco International Hip Hop Dance Festival, AAPI Dance Festival NYU Skirball, Bronx Museum, Symphony Space, Ladies of Hip Hop Festival, and more.

Creative Team Credits

Director: Sun Kim

Choreographer: Sun Kim, in collaboration with the dancers

Writer: Sun Kim and Dillon Kraemer

Associate choreographer: Alice Castro

Composer: Michael Winograd

Lighting Designer: Amina Alexander

Scenic Designer: Psyril R. Apacible

Cast: Sun Kim, Alice Castro, Adniel Velez, Jordan Kaya, Erica Diederich, Michael Winograd

La MaMa Moves! 2026, the 21st season of La MaMa’s annual dance festival, brings together dance artists at all stages of their careers to experiment, collaborate, and share new work. Curated by Nicky Paraiso, the festival will take place over five weeks in April and May of 2026 and will include twelve productions across La MaMa’s four venues, and up to four in-person community workshops and public discussions. This year’s festival line-up features dancemakers Donald Byrd, Beth Corning with guest puppeteer Tom Lee, Vangeline, Patricia Hoffbauer, Dancers Unlimited, Sun Kim Dance Theatre, Green Cow, Iver Findlay, BamBam Frost & Ori Flomin, Pioneers Go East Collective, and ms. z tye & Mina Nishimura in a shared weekend curated by La MaMa Curatorial Residents Martita Abril & Blaze Ferrer.

In 2026, La MaMa Moves! continues its Curatorial Residency for the second year. Over six months, Curatorial Residents Martita Abril and Blaze Ferrer work with Nicky Paraiso as they plan and execute a shared program to be presented in the festival. Curatorial Residents have research time in the La MaMa Archive (which documents 60+ years of dance history) and attend productions across NYC with Paraiso. The residency aims to provide curatorial mentorship and professional development to young dance artists, empowering them to build sustainable careers while bringing new voices into La MaMa.

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