Kenleigh Kurpe has decided to take the easy street.
The 10-year-old Brookfield Middle School fifth-grader is one of the Little Rascals in Easy Street Production’s 30th anniversary version of “Miracle on Easy Street.”
She dances in two numbers, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
“We kind of act out what they’re saying in the song,” she said.
Kenleigh has been studying the performing arts since age 3, when her mom, Krista Kurpe, enrolled her in a creative movement class. When she was old enough. Kenleigh started dance classes – tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop – at J&J’s Dance Depot in Hubbard.
She auditioned for “Miracle on Easy Street” because friends were doing it, although she had taken a Little Rascals singing workshop with Easy Street co-founder Maureen Collins about three years ago. She described the Easy Street adults as “fun.”
“They teach us way more than I expected,” said Kenleigh, who does not sing in “Miracle on Easy Street.”
Kenleigh said she likes to keep busy and also plays sports, draws and blows saxophone in the band.
“Even when she’s on the field with softball, she’s out there dancing,” Krista Kurpe said. “It’s cute. We don’t watch a lot of TV. Try to do more things.”
promo“Miracle On Easy Street” will be presented to schools Dec. 11-13, and Brookfield’s fifth-graders will attend the Dec. 11 show. Although she’s a little nervous about performing before her class, having friends in the audience should help her to relax, Kenleigh said.
“My friends Madison (Obermiyer) and Aeryn (Berena) are coming to see me twice because of the field trip and then they’re coming to the show on another day,” she said. “They think it’s pretty cool.”
Although Kenleigh can imagine herself dancing on Broadway, she has very modest goals for her dancing career.
“I just like meeting new friends and having fun with it,” she said.
“Miracle on Easy Street: will be presented in public performances at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15 at DeYor Performing Arts Center, Youngstown. Tickets: 330-744-0264 and YoungstownSymphony.com