Popular dance “Swing Criollo” nominated for UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The Ministry of Culture and Youth announced that Costa Rica has nominated the popular dance Swing Criollo for UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Costa Rica prepared and submitted a nomination file for Swing Criollo to be considered for UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

San José, March 27, 2025. The Ministry of Culture and Youth announced that Costa Rica has nominated the popular dance Swing Criollo for UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The preparation of the nomination file was led by the National Commission for the Safeguarding of Swing and Bolero Criollo, whose members are William Jiménez, Paola Morales, Carlos Soto, Jaime Calderón, Patricia Rodríguez, Jonathan Meneses, and Francisco Murillo; supported by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Unit of the Cultural Heritage Directorate of the Ministry of Culture and Youth of Costa Rica. In addition, a total of 60 consents were obtained from the community that carries this tradition, supporting the nomination.

Swing Criollo originated in the mid-20th century in certain dance halls in the city of San José, which at the time were socially marginalized. This rhythm emerged from a hybridization between music based on cumbia and turns characteristic of 1950s American swing dance; however, Swing Criollo developed distinctive features in Costa Rica that make it unique, which is why it was declared a dance expression of Costa Rica’s intangible cultural heritage in 2012.

The nomination file was submitted to UNESCO in Paris, France, by the Ministry of Culture and Youth of Costa Rica, where the nomination and its supporting evidence will be evaluated. Subsequently, it will be reviewed by the Intergovernmental Committee, composed of 24 countries, which will be responsible for issuing the decision regarding a potential inscription in December 2026.

“Nominating Swing Criollo to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity allows us to recognize the efforts of generations that have kept this unique expression alive. From its origins in the dance halls of San José, Swing Criollo has gained strength, and through jumps and turns, it has become a symbol of our identity. This nomination reflects the Ministry of Culture and Youth’s commitment to the preservation and promotion of our traditions, and it also helps ensure that Swing Criollo continues to be a symbol of pride and unity for Costa Ricans,” stated Jorge Rodríguez Vives, Minister of Culture and Youth.

The potential inscription of Swing Criollo on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity would highlight the cultural diversity of Costa Rica, while raising awareness of the importance of our intangible cultural heritage. It also values the efforts of the tradition-bearing community to keep this expression alive.

Safeguarding evidence. Included in the nomination file, as part of the inventory on the cultural expression, were two publications that describe its characteristics: “Brincos y vueltas a ritmo de swing”, by Claudia López Oviedo and Paola Salazar Arce, published in 2012; and “Swing criollo, más allá del baile”, by William Jiménez Araya, published in 2024.

Furthermore, several safeguarding efforts were identified, such as projects developed through the Ministry of Culture and Youth’s “Workshop Grant” Fund. Tradition bearers carried out two projects: in 2019, the project “Entre Guardias: A meeting for the transmission of bolero and Swing Criollo”, and in 2020, “Between guards and tradition bearers: An intergenerational experience with bolero, Swing Criollo, and the community.” Also, the Asociación Embajadores del Swing y el Bolero Criollos organizes the annual “National Meeting of Swing and Bolero Criollo”, which includes workshops, panel discussions, dances, artistic performances, and cultural showcases for all ages. Additionally, the Asociación Cultural del Swing y el Bolero Costarricense holds a monthly event called “Swing Criollo and Bolero live in the square”, a space for social interaction through open-air dance demonstrations in Plaza de la Democracia, in San José, where dancers also teach dance steps to attendees.

Moreover, the project “Dances of Remembrance”, a social gathering space oriented toward senior dancers, known as “the old guard of swing,” is held every Friday at the La Terraza dance hall, located next to Central Park in San José.