Mexico City Entertainment

  1. Dada X

    Black-clad youth gravitate toward this space on the upper floor of a magnificent colonial building. The varied program includes cult films, poetry readings and live music, which might be anything from ska to electronica.

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  2. La Casa De Paquita La Del Barrio

    Located in the rough-and-tumble Guerrero district, this bastion of popular culture is the frequent venue for TV and recording star Paquita La del Barrio. The corpulent chanteuse customarily performs a sublime set of plaintive ballads, almost all of which express disdain for her suitors - her asides are deliciously bitter. Phone ahead to see if Paquita herself is performing.

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  3. La Planta De La Luz

    The 'power plant,' inside the Plaza Loreto shopping mall, is the creation of raconteur and Reforma columnist Germán Dehesa (sometimes called the Mexican Woody Allen). The large supper club alternates between Dehesa's own comedic revues and music performances by well-regarded folk, rock and pop artists.

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  4. Palacio de Bellas Artes

    The Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional and prestigious opera and dance companies perform in the palace's ornate theater, while chamber groups appear in the recital halls. It's most famous, though, for the Ballet Folclórico de México - a two-hour festive blur of costumes, music and dance from all over Mexico.

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  5. Teatro De La Danza

    This complex behind the Auditorio Nacional features six theaters, including the Teatro de la Danza, established in 1969 and dedicated to modern dance. An elegant auditorium, there are just 340 seats, so advance reservations are recommended for the higher-profile performances. As with classical music, Mexico City's cultural centers frequently stage classical and contemporary dance performances; watch for announcements in Tiempo Libre and Friday's La Jornada .

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