The reference library with its more than 10,000 volumes is ever expanding and holds an extensive collection of books, works of reference, music supplies and German as well as international dance magazines.
We offer the possibility to study dance in its various forms and in relation to other art forms, science, society and the media. Apart from our own stock, the modern reading room of the dance archive offers the use of the internet for research, inviting our visitors to grasp the ephemeral.

The different media available at the Leipzig Dance Archive are in chronological numeric order and listed according to their contents as follows:

• Works of Reference:
• Bibliographies
• Textbooks, encyclopaedias
• Periodicals (specialist journals, reports, news)

• Dance in Relation to other Sciences, Art Forms and the Media:
• Dance in the context of visual arts and photography, video dance, digital dance
• Dance from a social and scientific point of view
• Philosophy, aesthetics, cultural and educational policy, linguistics, sociology
• Rituals and religion
• Ethics and pedagogy
• Medicine and psychology, music and dance therapy
• Dance and law, dance treatises
• Rhythmic education and gymnastics
• Rhythmic research, eurhythmy
• Gender studies

• History of Dance:
• Complete presentations
• Individual historical eras
• Dance ethnology
• General information on dance history from the field of folk dance (musical, cultural and ethical history of folk dance)
• Aesthetic and general reflections

• Folk Dance:
• Folk dance research
• Monographic and comparative studies of individual dance genres and folk dances; folk dance studies limited to certain regions
• Folk dance collections (including social dance, dance games, youth, communal and mass dancing)
• Folk dance promotion (organisation, parties, seminars, training, folk dance meetings and tours, circuit training)
• Theories on social dance
• Organisation of dances and festivities
• Folk dance monographs

• Children’s Dance:
• Studies and scientific and practical collections of children’s dance
• New dances and dance games for children
• Methodical and pedagogical articles

• Ballroom Dance:
• Aesthetic and general studies and reports
• Textbooks
• Monographic studies, choreographies und essays on individual ballroom dances and popular dances
• Social situation and specific issues relating to the profession of ballroom dance teachers
• Classes and organisation of dance evenings

• Competitive Dance:
• Instructions
• Evaluation criteria
• Reviews and reports

• Dance Music, Jazz:
• General and aesthetic observations (the Orff approach)
• Historical and comparative studies
• Folk dance music (compilations)
• Dance music, social and popular dance
• Stage dance and ballet music
• Composers, catalogues of works, conductors, orchestras
• Jazz

• Amateur Dance:
• General issues
• Methodic und pedagogic contributions
• Group monographs and reports (awards, awardees)
• Folk dance and stage versions of folk dance
• Amateur dance (topical dance games)
• “Der Bewegungschor” [a term coined by Rudolf von Laban for his mass-movement choirs]
• Collection of round dances and other smaller theatrical dances for amateurs

• Stage Dance:
• General and aesthetic observations (dance, theatre, dance theatre and performance art)
• Choreography, dramaturgy, libretto, stage direction
• Ballet (aesthetics, productions, reviews, competitions, festivals, ballet weeks, guest performances)
• Modern dance (German Expressionist Dance, aesthetics, reviews, reports)
• Dance in opera, operetta, musical
• Revue, film, television, jazz dancing
• Vaudeville, circus, bar and cabaret dancing
• Dance techniques and text books (classic, modern, national, jazz)
• Training centres and further vocational training
• Social situation and specific issues concerning professional stage dancers
• Biographies of dancers, choreographers, ballet masters, dance educators and monographs on ballet ensembles, dance theatre, chamber dance
• Folk dance and professional ensembles
• Children’s ballet

• Dance Notation:
• Kinetography
• Musical notation
• Historical dance papers

• Dance Studies:
• Current national and international research approaches