About Us!

Festival Host & Co-Director

Brandee Lara began her professional stage career in regional theatre, Las Vegas, and national tours, then made her way to directing and choreographing for major civic light operas, regional theatres and Los Angeles area theatres, garnering great reviews, nominations of recognition and many awards for choreography and direction. Performing credits include stage, network television and film, most recently the Hollywood Fringe Fest, Apple/Sony’s “Spirited,” starring Ryan Reynolds, Will Farrell and Octavia Spencer, and appearances on the Late, Late Show with James Corden.

Brandee holds a Masters Degree in Dance (with an emphasis in Dance Education) and a Bachelor's Degree in Acting and Directing, both from Cal State University, Long Beach.

Brandee has taught tap at Chapman University for 28 years, where she started the on-campus tap dance club, Chapman University Tap Ensemble (CUTE), and served as advisor for two decades. In Spring 2022, Brandee was the artistic director of Chapman’s first-ever tap festival, featuring Chloe Arnold's Syncopated Ladies.

Besides teaching at Chapman, Brandee is on the Musical Theatre and Dance faculties at Cal State University, Fullerton, where she is faculty advisor for dance clubs, OC Sole and Full Out. In Spring 2027, she’ll be choreographing Anything Goes with guest director, Alvin Ailey's Neisha Folkes. Brandee has taught at several major tap festivals, including the LA Tap Fest, Riff Dallas and most recently in Sao Paolo, Brazil. She has been a faculty member for two Jacob’s Pillow 360 Intensives, held at Chapman University, working with dedicated students from around the country. In her 32 years in Orange County, CA public arts education, she was a founder of the Huntington Beach Union High School District’s original performing arts magnet school (APA/SPA); began a high school theatre and dance program in Santa Ana USD and wrote and implemented a dance curriculum for Tustin USD. Golden West College awarded her a Pillar of Achievement for her work in arts education in the city of Huntington Beach, and she was recognized as a Teacher of the Year for this work. 

Brandee’s own training began in L.A. with Melvin Kaiser, Al Gilbert and Mary Lou Privette. She later studied jazz with Jaime Rogers, and had the privilege of taking private tap lessons with Maceo Anderson of the Four Step Brothers. 

A highlight of Brandee’s academic career was being named Dance/Dance Teacher Magazine’s 2015 Dance Teacher of the Year for Higher Education for her work at Chapman University. Brandee has been a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA since 1980. @brandee5678 @tapfestcali

Festival Co-Director 

Parris D. Mann has toured the United States, Canada and Europe as a principal dancer in productions of BLACK & BLUE, WILD WOMAN BLUES, RIVERDANCE/THE SHOW and JUST ‘n TIME. Parris’ Broadway credits include performances in RIVERDANCE on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater and THE JOINT IS JUMPIN’ at the Supper Club.

Parris has been privileged to have performed with the legendary Lionel Hampton, Linda Hopkins, Mercedes Ellington in conjunction with being a company member of both New Jersey Tap Ensemble and Manhattan Tap. Tap dance legends Buster Brown, Jimmy Slyde, The Rhythm Queens, Lady Dianne Walker, Heather Cornell and a host of other Tap Dancers legends he has also had the pleasure of working with, mentored and trained by. Parris also participated in The Stardust Road Concert, a musical tribute to jazz legend Hoagy Carmichael, Tap City, LA Tap Festivals. He also participated in the production of a movie based on the life and music of the acclaimed Billie Holiday.

Parris produced, choreographed and directed JUST ‘n TIME and THINGS AINT WHAT THEY USED 2 BE. “Here’s II Lyfe!” is produced alongside his wife, Rashida Khan-Mann. The production features such talents as Freda Payne, Rogelio Douglas, along with co- choreographer Rashida Khan-Mann and the additional stage direction of Barbara Montgomery and Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of the legendary Duke Ellington. Both shows have toured internationally and premiered in Los Angeles as well as New York. JUST ‘n TIME had the distinction of making history during its Russian tour as the first African American tap show presented at the Kremlin Theater. His final version of THINGS AINT WHAT THEY USED TO BE premiered on January 7th, 2012, in Los Angeles and New York City under the title, “Here’s II Lyfe!”

In 2002-04 Parris served as an advisor and Adjunct Professor at the Dance Theater Department of Norfolk State University and collaborated in its stage production of FOOTPRINTS IN TIME. Parris has also taught at Chapman University (Music for Dancers), Newark Community School of the Arts (Newark, NJ), ACES/Educational Center of the Arts (New Haven, CT), Broadway Dance Center (New York, N.Y.), Ocean Center for Performing Arts (Howell, NJ), Westside Dance Academy (Los Angeles, CA), Lula Washington Performing Arts School, Los Angeles (CA), Louisiana State University (as adjunct professor) is co-director of the tap teams at Elevation Studios along with his wife Rashida Khan-Mann (Long Beach, CA.).and most recently taught at the Tap Master Tap Fest in Brazil.

Parris is the Co-Founder of KhanMann Productions LLC, a company which is dedicated to the developmental process of Artists and their vision of Arts Production. He is a charter member of New Jersey Tap Ensemble (founded and directed by Deborah Mitchell).

Parris is currently on faculty at CSU Long Beach teaching tap dance.

Festival Co-Director

Katrina Lopez is a longtime advocate, leader, performer, and supporter of the arts whose life has been shaped by a deep belief in creativity, talent, and the importance of giving people opportunities to thrive.

Her connection to the entertainment world began in high school and has continued throughout her life. As a performer herself, with experience and involvement in dance, theater, music, and the performing arts, Katrina understands firsthand the dedication, vulnerability, discipline, and passion that go into pursuing a creative life. Her own experiences as a performer have given her a genuine appreciation for artists and the work required to develop and share their craft.

Throughout the years, Katrina has remained actively connected to the arts—supporting performers, promoting talent, encouraging artists, championing creative projects, and helping others recognize and develop their abilities.

For Katrina, the arts are about much more than entertainment. They are a powerful means of expression, connection, confidence, and community. She believes strongly in creating opportunities for artists and in providing the encouragement and support that allow creative people to take risks, grow, and find their own voices.

Katrina brings that same commitment to people into her professional life. She served as a Union President for 18 years, developing extensive experience in advocacy, negotiation, leadership, and organizational strategy. Today, she works as a consultant with unions and labor organizations across the country, helping leaders strengthen their organizations and better serve their members.

Although her professional career and her passion for the arts have taken different paths, both reflect something fundamental about who Katrina is: she believes in people and in the importance of helping them succeed.

Whether she is performing, supporting an artist, encouraging a performer, promoting creative work, mentoring a leader, or advocating for someone who needs a voice, Katrina is motivated by the opportunity to make a difference.

Her lifelong connection to the arts continues to be an important part of her identity and the work she chooses to support. She believes creativity deserves to be nurtured, artists deserve champions, and people should be encouraged to pursue the talents and dreams that make them uniquely their own.

“People deserve to be seen, heard, encouraged, and given the opportunity to succeed.”