The city is big and our schedules are tight, but there are two extraordinary must-see events opening this weekend: “Soulé” and “Aire Frío”/“Cold Air.”

“Soulé” is a contemporary flamenco rhythm and blues fusion that runs for one night only, Friday, August 17th at 8 p.m. at On.Stage Black.Box Theater at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium. The performance extends traditional flamenco into a contemporary dance context and uses sultry rhythm and blues, live singers and spoken word to create a new, modern take on flamenco. Yes, there will be the traditional dramatic flamenco dresses, but the movements chart new territories within the genre.

“Soulé” will be performed Friday, August 17 at 8 p.m. at the On.Stage Black.Box Theater at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, 2901 W. Flagler St., Miami; 305-547-5414; www.miamiartsandculture.org. Tickets are $25; $20, seniors and students. General admission tickets can be purchased Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m. -4 p.m. at the Miami-Dade County Box Office; at the North Miami Arts Collective, 845 NE 125 St., North Miami; or at www.ticketmaster.com. “Aire Frío”/”Cold Air.”

After “Soulé” on Friday night, head over to the University of Miami’s Jerry Herman Ring Theatre for the Cuban play “Aire Frío”/”Cold Air” by Argos Teatro and director Carlos Celdrán. The performance kicks off Absurd Celebration: The First International Festival of Virgilio Piñera’s Theatre. The festival celebrates famed Cuban playwright Virgilio Piñera and will feature five of Piñera’s plays throughout the festival.

“Aire Frío”/”Cold Air,” which opens August 17-18 at 8 p.m. and August 19 at 5 p.m., charts the history of the semi-self destructive/self-empowering Romaguera family, who are frustrated and obsessed with the daily grind of family life. Their dreams and aspirations, and the heat, become the threads that tie this play together. The play will be performed in Spanish with English subtitles.

“Aire Frío”/”Cold Air” at UM’s Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, 1312 Miller Dr., Coral Gables; 305-284-3355; www.miami.edu/ring. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission; $15, students and seniors. There is also a discounted Festival Package that includes admission to all five plays. Festival Packages are $75 for general admission; $60, students and seniors.