14 August 1 • 2019
jn
leave.
Rachel Weiss, 16, has
been on the team for three
years and will age out after
this year’
s games. When she
stated this would be her last
year, she was met by a cho-
rus of sighs, with a few girls
remarking on how sad it was she
had to leave.
Once they join the team, dancers
typically stay until they age out,
only leaving if they have a major
conflict with the dates of the com-
petition itself, such as a vacation or
summer camp. Some even stay after
they are too old to compete, acting
as assistant coaches or choreogra-
phers.
Sloan Lemberg and Melanie
Taylor are examples. Lemberg now
works with the team as a choreogra-
pher and Taylor will be an assistant
coach for the third year in a row.
“I wouldn’
t change my experi-
ence with the team for the world,”
Taylor said. “We have improved
so much in the last few years. Of
course, I want them to win medals
and let their moms get a video for
Facebook, but the most important
thing is that they have fun and are
able to build relationships with
other Jewish teens.”
During her time on the team,
Mari Lynn said she developed
strong friendships with her
teammates.
“Everyone on the team is
really special,” she said. “We
really are like sisters.”
Not only are the dancers
close with the members of
their own team, but they have
also forged friendships with dancers
on teams from all over the country.
Weiss of Walled Lake said she is
most excited this year to see her
friends from other cities she has
met over the years.
The team is particularly close
to the dance delegation from
Washington state — so much so
that they have an ongoing group-
chat and even decided to do an
anonymous gift exchange last
Chanukah.
This year, the team has two pro-
duction numbers that include all
17 girls. One is set to a Michael
Jackson medley and is categorized
as “open” because of its varied
styles. The second piece is a tradi-
tional Israeli dance with a modern
twist. There will also be a number
of duets and trios.
Additionally, 11 girls will be per-
forming solos in the lyrical, mod-
ern, jazz and hip-hop categories.
The Maccabi dance team will be
competing on Aug. 5, 7 and 8. ■
“I want them to win medals … but the
most important thing is that they have fun
and are able to build relationships with
other Jewish teens.”
— ASSISTANT COACH MELANIE TAYLOR
ABOVE: Nicole
Spizizen, Emma
Goldschmidt and
Rachel Weiss
talk with
assitant coach
Melanie Taylor.
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