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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