Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry meets college prep at Christmas Dance
Xavier’s Yule Ball Christmas Dance was one for the books, from the promotion, to the execution – everything was a smash hit.
Junior Caroline Anton can remember exactly where she was when she found out the theme for the Christmas dance was Yule Ball. It came up at break on a frosty winter morning as she sat with her friends in their usual circle in upstairs Fitz. As soon as the topic was breached, a hesitant excitement immediately took hold. For a group of avid Harry Potter fans, this theme was the ultimate dream come true, but how could this possibly compare to the Hogwarts winter formal they had idealized since they had first read of it in early adolescence? Anton was afraid that the dance would not live up to her high hopes. She said, “We had had our hearts broken before by things inspired by our favorite books (I’m looking at you Percy Jackson movie franchise). Thankfully, our fears were unfounded. The Yule Ball was a huge success.”
For those who are unfamiliar, the Yule Ball is a dance that takes place in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” the fourth book in the popular series about a young wizard and his fight against the forces of darkness. In order to promote the theme and raise excitement, Xavier’s Executive Student Council, with assistance from Mr. Jonah Nelson, outdid themselves with a scavenger hunt competition. Coded clues were released that would lead students to three separate golden snitches, the ball with the largest point value in Quidditch, Harry Potter’s sport of choice. If a student decoded the clue and discovered the snitch, she received not only the coveted golden object, but also free admission into the dance. This promotional strategy was a perfect technique in raising excitement for the dance, offering fun for Harry Potter fans and non-fans alike. This brilliant beginning was only the tip of the iceberg, foreshadowing the perfect mixture between Harry Potter memorabilia and traditional Xavier dance magic that would characterize the night.
Attendees of the event were treated to Krispy Kremes, Hava Java and Butterbeer, a traditional wizard drink found in the town of Hogsmeade. There were also a myriad of activities to entertain both wizards and muggles alike including: photos, karaoke and some downright juicy jams.
Senior Jennifer Gross was especially thrilled with the karaoke. She said, “It was so awesome to see everyone participating and having fun singing their hearts out. Karaoke is definitely something I hope they do at future dances.”
Based on the huge lines and crowding in Lutfy Hall, where the karaoke took place, Gross was not the only one who loved the enterprise. Overall, the Yule Ball was one dance that will not be soon forgotten.
