faculty spotlight

Parris has recently appeared as one of the leads and co-stars in Sheldon Epps “Blues in the Night” musical revue which had nearly two months of a successful run at the (Beverly O’Neil Theater in Long Beach, CA. and the Nate Holden Theater in Los Angeles, CA.). 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!” Outside of many other various performances Parris was just recently seen as one of the co-stars in the Tony Award nominated musical “Blues in the Night in fall and winter of 2021, which ran for 10 weeks between Long beach City Theater and the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, under the direction of the famous Wren T. Brown.

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 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). Parris can be found teaching at Hart Academy (La Habra CA), Orange County Music and Dance (Irvine CA), Impact Dance (Los Alamitos CA), and is co-director of the tap teams at Elevation Studios along with his wife Rashida Khan-Mann (Long Beach, CA.).

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).