What this section covers. Theatre, dance and the performing arts, in a city with one of the largest independent scenes in the Spanish-speaking world.
How the scene is organised. Three layers. The institutional theatres — Bellas Artes, the Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris, the Centro Cultural del Bosque, the UNAM theatres — with full seasons published in advance. The commercial circuit in Polanco and the Zona Rosa, with musicals and long runs. And the independent venues, concentrated in the Roma, the Condesa and Coyoacán: Foro Shakespeare, Teatro La Capilla, El Milagro, Foro A Poco No and dozens more, where a production runs Thursday to Sunday for a few weeks and then disappears.
Dance. The Ballet Folklórico de México performs at Bellas Artes; contemporary dance lives at the Centro Cultural del Bosque and the UNAM.
Practical notes. Almost everything is in Spanish without surtitles. Independent tickets are inexpensive and often cash only at the door. Seasons are announced a few weeks ahead rather than months, so check close to your dates.
