Here is a little information about our Committee, to help get to know us better. If there are any questions, please feel free to approach any of us.
| President Daniel Franzen |
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Hello, my name is Daniel! If you see something orange dancing around it is probably me. I am studying Computer Science and have already been here and in the Committee for almost two years. My degree was already finished, but I decided that (New) Scotland is so great that I started another degree here. This year you elected me to be the president and I do all that I can to make the society a place where everybody feels welcome. I also keep an eye on the website and the mailinglist, with the constant goal to optimize (as we Germans like it) and amaze. I never say no to an invitation to dance and I see everything as an invitation to steal food. Watch out! | |||
| Vice-President Ulrike Werner |
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| I am not at uni anymore, but a fully grown up (not), working person. Therefore you probably won\\\’t find me around the university buildings. I originally joined New Scotland to learn Step and Highland dancing, but found out I\\\’m too clumsy for either and gave the up pretty quickly. I did stick to Country dancing though, which is the only dancing I ever managed to do and enjoy. I love the socializing in New Scotland, the away events like Freshers\\\’ Weekend, IVFDF, dances at other universities, the countless parties, etc… |  |
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| Treasurer Lena Bekken |
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Hi! I am Lena (from Norway), and I am studying International Business in my second year. Before arriving Edinburgh this autumn, I had never danced (any kind of dancing) before. I was first introduced to the society through one of the workshops during freshers week, and then a ceilidh later on. All the people in New Scotland made me feel very welcome and made the dancing great fun, even if I had never done it before (and made more mistakes than things right). I believe this is what New Scotland is all about; a great lot of fun, laughing at ones own mistakes and dancing with some of the firendliest people in Edinburgh! |
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| Secretary Melanie Quintero |
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Hey guys, my name is Melanie and I am doing a Master degree in Arab World Studies. I am the current Secretary of New Scotland in charge of organizing all our wonderful dances and taking care of administrative stuff. My German genes will hopefully help me with this job as we Germans are generally known to be very organized.  I have been doing Scottish Country for 9 years and started dancing ballet when I was 5 years old. In short, I cannot imagine a life without dancing! Everything gets a little bit easier to bear when you dance through life! But even if you have no dance experience at all New Scotland is the best place to give it a try. The society is amazing at including new people regardless of their level of experience and its wonderful people will immediately make you feel as part of the crowd. Loads of fun at our numerous events and wonderful people guaranteed! |
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| Steward Kieran Porter |
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Hallo, I\’m Kieran and when I\’m not dancing, doing something New Scotland related or playing music, there\’s talk that I\’m in my first or second year (depending on when you\’re reading this) of studying physics. New Scotland was a natural progression for me, what with my clinical aversion to dancing. I went to a ceilidh in fresher\’s week, thought it was awesome and somehow ended up here. I\’m very glad I did, New Scotland has been far and away the best thing about university thus far! Have a great laugh with really awesome people and discover your home from home in New Scotland! | |||
| Publicity Officer Aileen Banks |
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| Hi, I’m Aileen and I’m the publicity officer for this year. I’m a 3rd Year Law Student and joined the society in September 2011 when I began my degree. I come from a small village in the very north of Scotland and have been doing Highland for 15 years. I am looking forward to my role this year and may even start attending the Country classes! What I like most about the society is the friendly atmosphere and the fact that everyone is so approachable. I know so many people who haven’t heard of the society, so my aim this year is to make as many people as possible aware of the society and encourage them to come along and try it out, no matter what level they are at! |  |
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| Ordinary Members: |
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| Bryony Smart |
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Hey, I’m Bryony and I am doing an MSc in botany. I joined New Scotland when I was in Edinburgh for a year’s exchange during my undergraduate. After I returned home to New Zealand I kept up my Scottish dancing and now that I’m back in the ‘burgh I am loving dancing with New Scotland again! I have been a dancer (of various styles) since I was 8 and these days I do Step, Highland and Country. I am one of the ordinary members on committee this year, which basically means I help out with whatever needs doing to keep the society running smoothly. New Scotland is a great way to meet people and get involved with some great events. Come and dance (and socialise, and party, and travel) with us, I promise you’ll have a blast! |
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| Roanna (Ronan) Mackay |
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| Hi, I\\\’m Roanna and I am in my third year studying biology. I have been doing Scottish dancing since the age of 5 and knew that I wanted to continue at University if at all possible, so I was ecstatic to find a society so similar to my club at home. The thing I love about the society is that there is a good range of classes so anyone can join at whatever level they are comfortable at. I do step,country and highland now, which basically mean I spend way too much time dancing, but I love it too much to give anything up. |  |
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| Jakki Watt |
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Hey guys! I’m Jakki and I am just rounding of my first year of History and Archaeology here at Edinburgh Uni. I went along to a class just after fresher’s week in September and New Scotland haven’t been able to get rid of me since. I originally started doing various types of dancing when I was five and was glad that I could still keep some of them up here in Edinburgh. I usually pop along to the advanced highland class, but yes there are tonnes of classes to suit all abilities. Everyone here is absolutely lovely and very lively which is why there is an abundance of advents throughout the year to keep you on your toes. So hurry up and get your dancing shoes on! | |||
