Dance and theatre in Mexico City

What this section covers. Dance and theatre listings for Mexico City.

Where theatre happens. Three circuits run in parallel. The institutional theatres — the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris, the Centro Cultural del Bosque, the UNAM venues — publish full seasons in advance. The commercial circuit, in Polanco and the Zona Rosa, runs musicals and long-running productions. And the independent scene, concentrated in the Roma, the Condesa and Coyoacán, where small theatres stage work Thursday to Sunday for a few weeks at a time.

Where dance happens. The Ballet Folklórico de México performs at Bellas Artes several times a week and is the one dance performance most visitors want. Contemporary dance lives at the Centro Cultural del Bosque, the UNAM and the Teatro de la Danza. And danzón is danced free, in public, on the Zócalo and in squares across the city most weekends.

Practical notes. Performances are in Spanish without surtitles, except dance. Independent theatre is cheap and often cash only. Seasons are announced a few weeks ahead.