JUNE 6 • 2024 | 33

PREPARING FOR THE 
MACCABI GAMES
As an adviser, Klinger prides 
herself in not necessarily being 
someone to “tell the kids what 
to do” — but instead serve as 
their greatest possible support 
system.
She is excited to also be 
co-coaching the Detroit 
Maccabi Dance Team this 
summer. 
Klinger started dancing 
at around age 3 and was a 
member of the pom team in 
high school. Upon graduating, 
she ended up coaching that 
pom team, which gave her the 
coaching itch. She fell in love 
with it. 
“I did it for a couple years 
and I was, like, this is my 
calling. It felt so good to be 
able to create dances even 
though I knew I couldn’t do it 
myself anymore. It ignited my 

passion.”
That coaching stint ended, 
but the itch never went away. 
She was always looking for 
similar opportunities, until one 
fell in her lap — the Detroit 
dance team for the 2024 
Maccabi Games, coming to 
Detroit this July, happened to 

be looking for another coach. 
Klinger is one of three 
coaches, and there’s currently 
around 10 dancers signed up, 
ages 12-16. 
“Everybody’s super-excited 
about it,” Klinger said. “We 
had our first practice a couple 
weeks ago. It’s gonna be really 

fun.” 
Klinger also started getting 
involved with Partners Detroit 
in her free time.
Klinger credits her deep 
pride in the Jewish community 
to always being surrounded 
by Judaism growing up and 
credits her innate passion 
for education and guiding 
younger people to having 
many teachers and people who 
loved being around kids in 
her family. It’s second nature 
to her. 
“People keep asking me, 
‘What’s next?’ My answer is I 
love being where I’m at right 
now,” Klinger said. 
“I know everybody in the 
community, and they know 
me. It’s so comforting to have 
so much community, and I 
think that’s what’s keeping me 
here, the comfort, love and 
support.” 

Klinger enjoys a smoothie with CSZ teens.

