She researches the intersections of music, politics, and dance, and she is particularly interested in the question of how the performing arts influence social, political, and economic systems. Dr. Searcy is currently working on a book, Ballet in the Cold War: A Soviet-American Exchange, in which she examines the American and Soviet cultural diplomacy programs. The book will discuss tours by the Bolshoi Ballet in the United States and by American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet in the Soviet Union. Over the past year, Dr. Searcy has also been researching the relationship between dance and hip hop music in the Broadway show Hamilton.