Scottish Country Dance of the Day

July 31st is the birthday of fictional boy-wizard, Harry Potter!

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first book in J.K. Rowling’s seven-part series, begins as Harry turns 11 and is invited to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

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Each book and subsequent film begins around Harry’s birthday—which falls on the same day as Rowling’s— and so the eighth story in the series, Harry Potter and Cursed Child, was released on July 31, 2016.

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The dance Nimbus 2017 depicts a game of Quidditch!  The game is fast, so the team decide to practise slowly (Strathspey), shake hands and then play for real. The Schiehallion reels show one team (the men) racing quickly ahead, followed closely by the other team (women). Then the teams reorganise and try to set up their next plays (hands across and casting off); suddenly the women are in the lead on the reels, and the men are chasing behind. The interlocking half reels of four and turning are further evidence of skillful players trying to outsmart each other on the pitch, before the first man then holds the Golden Snitch aloft in victory at the end!

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Nimbus 2017 is a Medley version of Nimbus 2002 by Vicky Goodloe, Kentucky, USA.  See the video of this dance below performed by the Waltham Scottish Country Dancers in 2017.

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For more on the Scottish connections in the J.K. Rowling book series, click the game of Quidditch!