22 Best Performing Arts in São Paulo, Brazil

Despite being housed in a magnificent old train station, Sala São Paulo is one of the most modern concert halls for classical music in Latin America. It's home to the São Paulo Symphony (OSESP).

The City Ballet, São Paulo's official dance company, has performed for many years at the magnificent Theatro Municipal.

The ballet performs contemporary works incorporating Brazilian pop and bossa nova music. Founded in 1971 during Brazil's period of dictatorship, the company made its name performing dances with political and social-justice themes.

The cultural center has temporary alternative film screenings, particularly of Brazilian titles, but also presents plays, concerts, and art exhibits. Major renovations finished in 2013 added new projection and sound equipment and saw improvements in the lighting and acoustics. Admission is free or low-price for some events.

Titles already out of other theaters and independent openings show for discounted prices at CineSESC. The screen is visible from the snack bar.

This esteemed contemporary dance company specializes in Brazilian contemporary dance and classic ballets. The performances are always accompanied by an orchestra.

One of the biggest theaters in São Paulo, Credicard Hall can accommodate up to 7,000 people. The venue frequently hosts concerts by famous Brazilian and international artists. Tickets can be bought by phone or online through Tickets for Fun.

Brazilian, European, and other non-blockbuster films are shown at the Espaço Itaú.

This theater shows Hollywood, European, and independent films.

Up to 3,000 people at a time attend rehearsals at Mocidade Alegre just before Carnival.

The complex contains four movie theaters, a small library, and a deck-style restaurant from which you can see—and be seen by—pedestrians on Paulista Avenue.

One of the most popular rehearsals takes place at Rosas de Ouro.

The fine state dance company performs throughout the country and tours internationally.

Part of a chain of cultural centers throughout the city, SESC Pompéia incorporates a former factory into its design. There are multiple performance spaces, but the choperia (beer hall) and theater host the most prominent Brazilian and international musical acts—from jazz and soul to rock and hip-hop.

International musicals and ballet, as well as occasional musical performances, are held at Teatro Alfa, which seats more than a thousand people. The sound and lighting technology are top of the line. Tickets can be bought by phone and through Ingresso Rápido, then picked up a half hour before the performance.

The Catholic University theater hosts plays and alternative concerts.

Inspired by the Paris Opéra, the Municipal Theater was built between 1903 and 1911 with art nouveau elements. Hamlet was the first play presented, and the house went on to host such luminaries as Isadora Duncan in 1916 and Anna Pavlova in 1919. Plays and operas are still staged here; local newspapers, as well as the theater's website, have schedules and information on how to get tickets. The auditorium, resplendent with gold leaf, moss-green velvet, marble, and mirrors, has 1,500 seats and is usually open only to those attending cultural events, although prearranged visits are also available. A museum dedicated to the theater's history is located close by at Praça das Artes. Call the theater to arrange a free guided tour in English.

Built in the neoclassical style in 1917, São Paulo's second-oldest theater is one of its best venues for chamber concerts and operas. Free morning events take place on Sunday and Wednesday.