The tradition of the Csárdás dance was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Wednesday by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage during its session in Asunción, Paraguay.
Hungary’s professional coordinator for the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Hungarian Open-Air Museum, stated that various versions of the Csárdás dance, which originated during military recruitment in the 18th century, are still performed today in Hungarian-speaking regions: in most parts of Hungary, Transylvania, the Felvidék (now Slovakia), and Vojvodina.
Revived nationwide through the Hungarian dance house movement of the 1970s, the Csárdás tradition holds a special place in community events and the repertoire of dance ensembles.
During the evaluation of Hungary’s submission, the Csárdás dance’s communal significance was emphasized. Each region has developed its unique version, while the couple’s dance and the circle Csárdás remain integral parts of weddings and balls in Hungarian-speaking areas. In the past, folk dances were passed down through generations via observation and practice at dances and balls. Later, with urbanization, dance schools became important venues for learning these traditions.
Today, the tradition is upheld by amateur and professional dancers. Folk dance education in primary and secondary art schools, university-level dance pedagogy programs, dance houses, dance camps, competitions, courses, and collections, along with traditional and amateur groups and modern media platforms, provide a solid foundation for the future preservation of the Csárdás dance.
It was noted that the living tradition of the Csárdás dance was added to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019 at the recommendation of the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO’s Subcommittee on Intangible Cultural Heritage. Documentation for the national inventory was prepared by the House of Traditions, while the submission for the Representative List was coordinated by the Directorate of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Hungarian Open-Air Museum.
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, adopted the international Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003. The convention aims to preserve living heritage, recognize cultural diversity, and value community traditions.
