Originally from Leith, Jean Swanston now of Logierait began teaching Highland Dancing in Highland Perthshire in 1975. At first classes took place in Ballinluig, and then they moved to Grandtully and Pitlochry. Classes now take place in the Studio at Middleton, Logierait.
Parents of the dancers attending the Jean Swanston School of Dancing form the Atholl Dancing Association. The A.D.A. was formed on 1 February 1979 with Barbara MacKintosh as the first Chairman. Part of the committee’s remit was and still is to organise the Atholl Dancing Festival which attracts competitors from all over Scotland to the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry. Since 1983 the committee has also organised a competition in March in Grandtully for members of the dancing class.
The Atholl Dancing Association is a Competition Organiser in Membership of the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing
Held from Friday 24 March to Sunday 26 March 2000. This was one of sportscotland’s Major Events for the Millennium.
The Atholl Dancing Association wanted the memory of this friendly event to live on through the presentation of "The Atholl Clasp".
Classes now take place in the Studio at Middleton, Logierait. Parents of the dancers form the Atholl Dancing Association.