The Secretaría de Cultura del Gobierno de México and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL), through the Coordinación Nacional de Teatro and in collaboration with ¡Caracoles! Danza Teatro, have announced the staging of OmbligO, a live-music scenic experience designed specifically for early childhood audiences. Written and directed by Mayela Guadarrama Briones, the production centers on the developmental needs and sensory perceptions of babies, toddlers, and young children ranging from approximately six months to four years of age.
Scheduled for a limited season from August 15 to September 20, the production will be presented at the Teatro del Bosque Julio Castillo within the Centro Cultural del Bosque. Performances are slated for Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m., with a running time of approximately 40 minutes. General admission tickets are priced at $150, while tickets for children are available for $80 through the Centro Cultural del Bosque box office and online platforms.
“La vida cultural comienza desde los primeros años, en el juego, el asombro y los vínculos afectivos. Abrir el teatro a bebés, niñas y niños es reconocerlos como públicos sensibles y sujetos plenos de derechos; así avanzamos hacia una política cultural que pone en el centro el cuidado, la curiosidad y el desarrollo integral de las primeras infancias”, stated Claudia Curiel de Icaza, the Secretary of Culture of the Government of Mexico.
Sensory Dramaturgy and the Concept of Cuddling
Rather than relying on a traditional narrative arc or spoken plot, OmbligO utilizes a somatic and sensory-based dramaturgy. The creative team built the performance around the fundamental, everyday action of curling up or “acurrucarse.” Through this gesture, the production explores physical themes of feeling small, seeking shelter, embracing oneself, and attuning to an individual bodily rhythm.
The performance space is arranged as an interactive installation intended to encourage exploration, contemplation, touching, resting, and quiet play. Performers Miriam Castillo and Valeria Bárcenas guide the engagement through movement, visual cues, and live musical accompaniment provided by musician Jacobo Núñez. Lighting design is handled by Edgardo Cervantes, costume design by Cinthya Montoya, and prop design by Martha Briones, with the overall set design credited to ¡Caracoles! Danza Teatro.
“OmbligO es una experiencia escénica con música en vivo dirigida a primeras infancias de 6 meses a 4 años de edad, donde, a través del lenguaje del cuerpo, el sonido y el juego visual, se navega por las posibilidades de acurrucarse una vez que existimos en el mundo, como una forma de protección y placer. Es una obra que propone la concepción del cuerpo como territorio autónomo y sensible, donde las infancias y sus familias navegarán por emociones múltiples como el gozo, la contención, el miedo a lo desconocido y el asombro”, explained the creators regarding the conceptual framework of the piece.
Developmental Roots and Tour History
The conceptual foundation of OmbligO traces back to the Territorios de Creación program, established during the III Encuentro Internacional de Artes Escénicas para los Primeros Años “Infancia, Territorio de Paz.” That initial convening took place in 2023 through the Centro Cultural Tijuana in co-production with the Colectivo de Teatro en Espiral. During the developmental process, ¡Caracoles! Danza Teatro consulted with Teatro al Vacío, an organization recognized in Mexico for pioneering research and performance creation geared toward infants and toddlers.
Since its premiere in May 2024 at the Centro de Difusión Cultural Raúl Gamboa of the Instituto Potosino de Bellas Artes in San Luis Potosí, the production has maintained an active touring footprint. It was selected for the Encuentro Nacional de Danza 2024 and featured at the Festival Internacional de Teatro para Bebés y Primera Infancia (FITPA) in Guadalajara.
Throughout 2025, the work traveled to several major cultural venues and festivals. It appeared in Mexico City as part of the 8.º Festival de Teatro para Bebés y Primera Infancia hosted at La Titería between May and June, and later took part in the ¡DAH! Festival Cultural para Bebés, Niñas y Niños de Primera Infancia 2025, coordinated by Alas y Raíces. In October 2025, the company returned to San Luis Potosí for a presentation at the 45.º Festival Internacional de Danza Contemporánea Lila López.
With its upcoming six-week residency at the Centro Cultural del Bosque, the production continues an ongoing effort by cultural institutions to expand performing arts access for children under the age of five. Audiences can secure tickets directly through the box office or official online ticketing channels ahead of the August opening.
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