The Time-Life research files on dance incorporate biographical and subject files about notable individuals and companies who were active in the dance industry from 1920 to 1994. The collection is primarily made up of newspaper and magazine clippings from well-known publications, such as the New York Times and Time Magazine; and also includes some dance programs, flyers, brochures, biographical memoranda, and correspondence.

The bulk of the research files is composed of Biographical Files that date from 1920 to 1994. Most of these files are composed of periodical clippings. Featured are individual dancers; choreographers; directors; costume and set designers; composers; conductors; producers; company founders and board members; filmmakers; dance critics; writers; socialites; painters; actors; and singers, broadly connected to the dance industry. The individuals represented in the files are predominantly dancers from North America, Europe, and East Asia. The dancers depicted in the files encompass a variety of dance types, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and burlesque. Present are Dean Anderson, Terese Capucilli, Moses Pendleton, Brenda Bufalino, Christine Dankin, Adolfo Quinones, Claire Sombert, Walter Sorell, and Pierre Lacotte. Some of the files contain obituaries that record how AIDS deeply affected the dance community from the 1980s to the early 1990s.

The Subject Files, dating from 1933 to 1993, are organized by broad subject terms followed by a category (ex. Dancing -- Choreography), geographical location (ex. Dancing -- Ballet -- United States), event (ex. Dancing -- United States -- Festivals -- Jacob's Pillow), and/or dance company (ex. Dancing -- Ballet -- United States -- San Francisco Ballet). The categorical terms cover types and styles of dance (ex. Dancing -- Tap or Dancing -- Twist), aspects of dance productions (ex. Dancing -- Costumes), and facets of the dance industry (ex. Dancing -- Education). Most of the geographical locations and events are based in the United States or Europe. All of the dance companies are based in New York City; London, England; Moscow, Russia; or Saint Petersburg, Russia. Unlike geographical location and broad subject term files that consist solely of periodical clippings; the dance company files hold periodical clippings, dance programs, flyers, and brochures. The companies most represented in the files are Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and the Royal Ballet.