Latin Night—The National Hispanic Cultural Center opens its next big art exhibit this Friday, March 31, with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. The show boasts an exciting range of 20^th-century art from 56 Latin American masters, courtesy of Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. Browse through the new exhibit, then head over to the center's auditorium for a performance at 8 p.m. by Albuquerque's own Yjastros of its newest flamenco production, A Nuestro Aire. Admission to the art reception is free. Tickets to the performance are $20 to $30. For more information, go to 246-2261 or visit www.nhccnm.org.

Michael Finnegan and Jacqueline Reid star in Fusion Theatre Company's new production of Private Lives .

Cell Theatre

The Fusion Theatre Company will dive into its fifth season this weekend with a production of Noel Coward's Private Lives at the Cell Theatre (700 First Street NW). In this comedy, a divorced couple meet in a French hotel with their new spouses, leading to a pair of very messy honeymoons. As always with Fusion productions, expect to be dazzled by some of the most polished theater in town. Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. Runs through April 23. $22 general, $17 students/seniors. Thursdays (excluding opening night) feature a $10 student rush (with valid ID) and $15 actor rush (with professional résumé). To reserve tickets, call 766-9412.

Exposé Dance Company will perform this weekend at Sandia Prep Theatre.

Sandia Prep Theatre

Edye Allen's Exposé Dance Company will perform its 2006 concert at Sandia Prep Theatre (532 Osuna NE) this Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. Allen's troupe isn't quite like any other dance group in town, presenting accessible, contemporary, multimedia dance shows set to everything from country to jazz to good ol' rock 'n' roll. Come on by and check them out. And if you're a dancer, ask Allen about the dance scholarships she's currently offering. 610-6064, www.dancexpose.org.

Wes Naman

The Youth Slam Team will bring it on at the National Youth Poetry Slam Festival this month

Here's a tip for ya: Poetry is the next hot commodity out of Albuquerque. If there were a Dow Jones of poetry slam, Albuquerque's stock would be as hot as Microsoft's after Windows 98.

Edmund White's own story

Edmund White has been HIV positive and healthy for 20 years. So far, he is one of the lucky few in whom the virus does not progress, leaving him stranded in the so-called post-AIDS world with a legion of memories and a sense of carpe diem. "In spite of what my doctor says, I have never been able to refuse a second piece of cake," says the portly 65-year-old. "Even when I know it's bad for me."