Lizzy Dances Through a Winter Wonderland

Lego and competitive dance are Lizzy Harris’ passions. On Dec. 21, she celebrated her bat mitzvah at Congregation B’nai Torah, followed by a Dunwoody Country Club party.

The Epstein School seventh grader is a member of JDance – an MJCCA Dance Company — and twirls into ballet, contemporary, jazz, and musical theatre dance

Lizzy’s parsha was Mikeitz where she compared the story of Joseph to her favorite movie, Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch.” She said, “Ohana” means “family” where no one gets left behind … just like Stitch came to his family’s rescue despite them kicking him out. Joseph was there for his family despite his brothers selling him into slavery … my family will always be there for me, and I’ll always be there for them.”

B’nai Torah Rabbi Joshua Heller’s speech recognized Lizzy’s empathy and desire to help others … her fierce dedication to “anything she sets her mind to” which would ensure long lasting relationships and success.”

To honor her late grandmother, kippot were lined with purple, Granny’s favorite color. Later, in a spice ceremony, Lizzy invited some of her favorite people to add spices, representing love, support, and memories that have shaped her. These “spices of her life,” were used for Havdalah.

Camp Judaea was central to the ceremony where Lizzy’s parents, Renee and Josh, met at a yearlong YJ course in Israel. Lizzy herself “lives” for summer camp. She said, “It meant so much to have friends stomping the floor, swaying, like we do at camp.” CJ assistant director, Ilana Schlam, led Havdalah.

For Lizzy’s mitzvah project, she collected coats, gloves, hats, hand warmers and sleeping bags that she delivered to The Sandwich Project for the needy. After Hurricane Helene, she quickly decided to also collect for those in South Georgia and Asheville, N.C., Renee’s hometown.

Marci Miller, of The Perfect Party Atlanta, did the décor and planning at Dunwoody Country Club, in a Winter Wonderland with lit up birch trees, dangling crystal snowflakes and a sparkling white dance floor. Other touches were “LIZZY “in lighted letters; tables had winter names. Miller used lilac, baby blue, silver and blue to make things “pop.”

Approximately 400 baseball-sized cotton balls dropped on the dance floor. Guests threw them at each other, followed by a cleanup competition. Gem face paint artist was Funorama, while TAPSnap’s photo booth had different winter-themed backgrounds.

Favors were hooded blankets with Lizzy’s logo. Kids under 8 received a teddy bear wearing a Lizzy hoodie. The DJ was Atlanta Fever, Omar as lead and Mellow as DJ. Two dancers ensured the party for 150 was lively.

The adults menu featured hors d’oeuvres: mini chicken wellington, deviled egg crustini, spring rolls. Main menu included a poke bar, Southern classic station with fried chicken and biscuits, and a beef short rib and truffle fries station. All with options of side Caesar salads.

The kids menu included hors d’oeuvres: mac and cheese bites, and mini beef corn dogs. The main menu featured chicken fingers, baked ziti, mozzarella sticks, and fruit bar.

The custom cocktail was Polar Punch (ginger ale, grenadine, Sprite and a dash of orange juice). Dessert was a giant six foot by eight foot donut wall, ice cream sundae bar, crème brulee cheesecake shots, mini pecan pies and chocolate torts.
Lizzy’s favorite songs played during the party were: “Tiny Dancer,” for the Father-Daughter dance; her entrance song, “Celebrate” (Pit Bull), her favorite Israeli dance song, “Kawaii,” and current fave, “Apt Apt,” by Bruno Mars and Rosie.

Lizzy had two dresses — her dream lilac dress with a corseted top used for her entrance. Then she changed for her daddy dance to a special lilac dress with white winter florals. Dancing in those talented feet, Lizzy and sister, Maya, wore Betsey Johnson shoes; but dad stole the show with purple metallic LED light up shoes from Amazon.

Guests stayed at Le Meridien Perimeter with the nearby Friday night dinner at Maggiano’s Perimeter.

Lizzy concluded, “I liked seeing friends and family all in one place, leading the service and making people laugh, the huge donut wall my daddy made, the sparkly dance floor, my beautiful dresses, being lifted in the chair during the party. And my most favorite was being the center of attention all weekend long.”