50 | AUGUST 29 • 2024 J
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nnie Klinger was looking to get back 
into coaching. 
JCC Maccabi Games co-chair Franci 
Silver was looking for someone to coach the 
Detroit dance team at the upcoming Maccabi 
Games hosted by Detroit. She thought Klinger, a 
friend’s daughter, would be a good candidate.
It was a perfect match. Klinger accepted 
Silver’s offer to be the Detroit dance team coach 
late last year. The 11 dancers on Klinger’s team 
won 12 medals at the Maccabi Games, held July 
28 through Aug. 2. 
“It was truly an amazing and fun week. I 
couldn’t be more proud of the girls,” Klinger 
said. “They’re lovely girls.”
The girls are Emily Anstandig, Lily 
Applebaum, Lexi Chismody, Aliyah Cohen, 
Layla Johnston, Marni Levine, Lily Liss, Taylor 
Lusky, Audrey Schmier, Reyna Schwartzenfeld 
and Brielle Winston. 
They won eight gold, two silver and two 
bronze medals in competitions at the J. Schmier 
also earned a midot tovot (good deed) medal. 
Klinger, 25, is the youth adviser in the 
Department of Youth and Family Living at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek. She’s had the job 
for two years. She works with teens and tweens 
at the synagogue.
While she doesn’t have experience as a com-

petitive dancer, Klinger was on the North 
Farmington High School pom pom team for four 
years (2012-16), then she was the coach of the 
Farmington United high school pom pom team 
from 2017-19 while she was a student at Wayne 
State University.
She graduated from Wayne State in 2021 with 
a degree in English.
“I really wanted to coach again. I missed it,” 
Klinger said. “I didn’t even have to think about 
it when Franci asked me to coach the Detroit 
dance team. I work with Maccabi Games-age 
kids at Shaarey Zedek and, of course, this was an 
opportunity to coach Jewish kids at a great event.
“I had a great time. I’d love to coach the 
Detroit dance team next year if they’ll have me 
back.”
Klinger said talent is just one of the reasons 
for her dancers’ medal haul at the Maccabi 
Games.
“The girls have a passion for dance,” she said. 
“It wasn’t all about winning when they were 
competing. They were joyful. They felt good on 
stage. They enjoyed dancing because they were 
in their element.”
Most of the girls on the Detroit dance team 
compete out of area studios. 
Anstandig isn’t one of them. The 13-year-old is 
a competitive gymnast.

Gymnastics isn’t part of the Maccabi Games, 
so Anstandig turned to dance because her 
friends Chismody and Cohen, who are competi-
tive dancers, were on the Detroit dance team.
The three girls joined forces in the trio compe-
tition, put in the work, and won a silver medal. 
Anstandig also won a gold medal in the group 
competition along with all of her teammates.
“Emily did so well for not having competitive 
dance experience,” Klinger said. “It gave me 
chills watching her.” 
The eighth-grader at Walnut Lake Middle 
School was modest about her success at the 
Maccabi Games.
“Dance isn’t gymnastics, but it’s similar,” she 
said. “I thought it would be cool to give it a try.”
She enjoyed the dance competition so much, 
she said, that she’s taking advanced “acro” class-
es. Acro combines gymnastics and dance.
As for the Maccabi Games experience, “it was 
cool and fun,” she said. “I met a lot of Jewish 
kids from all over the world.”
Marni Glowacki was the Detroit dance team’s 
assistant coach. Abi Perehodnik served as the 
teen assistant. 

Send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

Coach praises Detroit dance team that sparkled at the JCC Maccabi Games.
‘I Couldn’t Be More Proud’

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SPORTS

The 11 Detroit 
dancers won 12 
medals at the JCC 
Maccabi Games.

SUBMITTED PHOTO