The Perth Medley

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

Reel
1- 8 1s+2s dance RH across and LH back to places
9-16 1s lead down the middle and back to face 2nd corners
17-24 1s set and turn 2nd corners, set and turn 1st corners to end in lines across (1L between 2s and 1M between 3s)
25-32 2s+1s+3s set twice, 1s turn 2H twice ending between 2s and 3s

Strathspey
1- 8 1s change places RH up and down centre, change back LH
9-16 2s+1s+3s advance and retire twice (up and down set) 1s turning onto sides, 2s+1s+3s advance and retire twice (across dance), 1s end facing 2nd corners
17-24 1s set and turn 2nd corners, set and turn 1st corners to end in lines across (1L between 2s and 1M between 3s)
25-32 2s+1s+3s set twice and 1s turn 2H 1¼ times to 2nd place own sides

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

The Perth Medley - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

The Perth Ball is a long-standing social tradition in Perthshire, Scotland, with documented records dating from at least 1820 and local tradition suggesting that similar gatherings may have taken place as early as the mid-eighteenth century. Over time it became one of the notable events in the county's social calendar, attracting local families and visitors for an evening centred on formal dancing and social gathering.

Historically the event was associated with the wider Highland ball season, a series of formal dances held in different parts of Scotland. These gatherings formed an important part of social life, bringing together communities for music, dancing, and celebration. The Perth Ball traditionally stood alongside other well-known Highland balls held in places such as Stirling, Skye, Donside, Aboyne, Angus, Oban and Lochaber, forming part of a network of similar social occasions across the country.

In earlier centuries the Perth gatherings were sometimes connected with the Perthshire Hunt and local race meetings, when visitors from across the region travelled to the town for racing and associated festivities. Balls were commonly organised during such events throughout Britain, providing a formal evening entertainment where members of the local gentry and their guests could meet and dance.

The dancing performed at the ball follows the traditions of Scottish country dancing. This form of social dance developed during the eighteenth century from a combination of earlier British country dances and Highland musical traditions. It is normally danced by groups of couples who move through a sequence of figures in time with music such as jigs, reels or strathspeys, creating a lively and cooperative style of ballroom dancing that is widely associated with Scottish culture.

Throughout its history the Perth Ball has been held in a variety of venues in and around Perthshire. Earlier events took place in the Sheriffs' Court in Perth, where the organisers funded the installation of a sprung wooden dance floor that remained in use afterwards. Later balls have been staged in several notable locations including the Old City Hall in Perth, Blair Castle, Murthly Castle, the Horsecross Centre and Scone Palace.

The event also developed social significance beyond the dancing itself. For many generations it was regarded as an important occasion at which young people from the county could make their social debut, reflecting the role of formal balls in traditional Scottish society. These gatherings provided opportunities for families and communities to meet in a structured and ceremonial setting, reinforcing local connections while celebrating shared cultural traditions.

One long-standing element of the evening is the performance of traditional dances associated with the event. Among them is the Perth Medley, a dance known to have been performed at the ball since at least the early nineteenth century. A medley combines sections of different musical rhythms within a single dance, in this case moving between faster reel time and the slower, more deliberate strathspey rhythm that is characteristic of Scottish dance music.

Today the Perth Ball continues as a formal social dance rooted in these historical traditions. The emphasis remains on Scottish country dancing performed in a lively and communal atmosphere, reflecting a cultural practice that has been part of Scottish social life for generations.