Mention Max Aaron’s name to Liana and Danya Sherman and they simultaneously exclaim, “We love Max!He is such an inspiration! We’ve been lucky enough to watch him from stage one to soaring!”
The Sherman sisters have been ice skating since they were barely more than toddlers and have had many opportunities to interact with Max both on and off the ice. The families share a friendship that began years ago at the rink and as members at Temple Chai in north Phoenix.
The talented girls attend Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, where Liana, 18, is a senior and Danya, 16, is a junior. Liana was the first on skates at about age 3. Her mother, Hope, thought it would be a nice hobby, especially during the long, hot summers in the Valley. She signed up for a “Parent & Pup” skating class at the Ice Den, the original training center for the Phoenix Coyotes. “I didn’t last long,” Hope recalls, “but Liana excelled and loved it. . So when Danya could stand on skates, she began as well.”
Liana has been skating ever since and now competes for the Coyotes Skating Club of Arizona at the Senior level. She excels in freeskating, ice dancing and in artistic theatrical skating. “I love being on the ice and plan to continue competing in college,” she says.
Danya took a few years off from skating when she was 11. “I love cooking and acting and wanted to spend some time trying a few different things. I’m not sure I’d make the same decision again, but I did learn a lot during that time, and the acting in particular helped me learn to ‘tell the story’ in ice dancing.” Danya still practices her theatrical skills in the teen improvisational troupe, “All Rights Reserved.”
A special treat for the dynamic duo is that Danya, who competes solo as an Open Juvenile skater, is able to “skate up” in the Senior level and pair with her sister to do their ice dancing. What a joy to be able to skate with Liana,” Danya says, smiling warmly at her sister. And Liana smiles back with “Danya is the perfect partner!”
Their Judaism is intrinsic to their beings. Both girls became b’not mitzvah at Temple Chai and both are involved at Hebrew High School. Liana chose “Papa Can You Hear Me?” from “Yentl” for one of her skating programs and dedicated it to her grandfather, who is known as Papa. Danya dedicated her “Rose’s Turn” from “Gypsy” to her Great Aunt Rose, for whom she is named. When they come home from skating practice on Fridays, they love to have a Shabbat dinner with their parents, Hope and Craig, and sometimes big brother, Adam, is in from college as well. They share their week’s adventures as they relax around the Shabbat table with Great Grandma’s candlesticks proudly glowing in the middle.
Liana says, “I need to make it clear that we couldn’t do any of this without our wonderful mother’s support. She’s there at every practice and every competition, even at 6 am, wrapped in her big, black fuzzy coat.” When the girls aren’t complimenting others, they’re praising each other. “I so admire Liana,” says Danya. “She’s absolutely my best friend. I’m thinking of not letting her go off to college.” Liana’s eyes well up as she lightly touches Danya’s arm. “Aw,” Liana replies, “you are so sweet.”
The entire Sherman family feels a deep connection to Max and his family. They see him as an incredible role model, not only for themselves, but for all skaters and want-to-be skaters too. “It is so exciting to watch Max and to cheer him on!” Danya says. And Liana adds, “He is a great person as well as a great skater.”
