Founded in 1957 by Kurt Petermann as a collection of traditional folklore, the TAL has evolved to an institution of documentation of all areas of dance. Until his death in 1984, Mr Petermann worked relentlessly to establish the archive as a renowned institution for the analysis of dance as a cultural phenomenon and in 1975 he achieved the affiliation with the GDR Academy of the Arts.

The changes currently affecting knowledge culture challenge the traditional boundaries separating art from science and natural sciences from humanities, focusing on the human body with its movements and senses as an instrument in the production and staging of knowledge.

The Leipzig Dance Archive (TAL) is a documentation and research facility on dance and movement for theorists, practitioners and for the public alike.
The TAL presents its work at conferences, symposia and exhibitions, aiming to make dance and movement a perceptible experience through lecture demonstrations and workshops. The Documenta choreologica and Wissenskulturen im Umbruch (Changing Knowledge Culture) books series keep the history of dance alive whilst being firmly rooted in present day culture.