Intangible Cultural Heritage
Táncház method: a Hungarian model for the transmission of intangible cultural heritage
The Táncház dancehouse model of teaching folk dance and music combines traditional forms of acquisition with modern pedagogical and academic methods Participants acquire dance knowledge from experienced members or tradition bearers by direct observation and imitation to the accompaniment of live music while using their own individual level of creativity to develop their competence and dancing ability The dancing is complemented by singing instruction handicraft activities and ethnographic presentations Anyone regardless of age competence or prior exposure can become an active participant The aim is to establish a valuebased communitybuilding entertaining yet educational form of recreational activity through the practice and transmission of intangible cultural heritage Táncház methods are also utilized in art schools and all levels of education and influence folk dance and music performance An annual National Táncház Festival and Fair constitutes the largest meeting of bearers mediators and enthusiasts yet age or contentspecific Táncházes have developed as well as workshops camps playhouses and handicraft clubs Increasing numbers of publications popularize Táncház and assist in refining and transmitting its methodology while folk dance and music resource centres enable the public to access archival recordings The model is easily adaptable for the safeguarding and transmission of any communitys intangible cultural heritage through handson acquisition thereby sustaining its diversity
Hungary -