[The Hogwarts Times] Winter Solstice Dance Announced!

[Quinn Rockwell]

This article appeared on the front page of the Tuesday, November 29 edition of the Hogwarts Times.

Winter Solstice Dance Announced! by Quinn Rockwell, student journalist
For the first time since Hogwarts' re-opening in 1999, the school is planning to host a dance! This has been rumored since early October, but now we have official confirmation and details from Deputy Headmistress Silverberg. It will officially be known as the Winter Solstice Dance and it will be held on Wednesday, December 21, in the Great Hall. The theme of the dance will be Winter Wonderland.

Incidentally, the timing of the dance ensures that the 'first generation' of students back at Hogwarts, i.e. those who were first-years in 1999 and who will be graduating at the end of next term, will have the opportunity to participate in a school dance and not be left out of this traditional Hogwarts experience.

Over the past six years, the student body was diminshed compared to before the Battle of Hogwarts, and this is one of the reasons we haven't had a dance since then. Headteacher Rossi hopes to host school dances more frequently going forward.

As a special treat, Prof. Rossi is canceling classes on Thursday, December 22 so all dance participants can recover from the festivities. This will allow curfew to be relaxed for the evening.

Professors Silverberg and Forrester are coordinating the event, and they will also be acting as chaperones.

Musical arrangements will be provided by members of the school choir and orchestra, with members rotating duties so they can also participate in the dance itself.

Hogwarts teachers will offer dance lessons for those students who don't want to embarrass themselves. Profs. Forrester and Silverberg will provide lessons for Ravenclaws, and Prof. Fah will provide lessons for Slytherins. The dance instructors for Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs have yet to be announced. Schedules will be posted in your common rooms once they're determined.

There will be a Hogsmeade Weekend in December, date yet to be decided, to allow students the chance to buy or rent suitable attire for the occasion.