Lyric Performing Arts Academy
We come to you!
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Meet Our Instructors!​
Mrs. Kehinde Salter
LPAA Artistic Director / Co-founding member and Artistic Director of Lyric Dance and Vocal Ensemble
Mrs. Kehinde Salter is a vivacious and talented vocalist, dancer, percussionist, poet, and writer with a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts with a minor in music. She has served as an educator for the past 21 years. An accomplished vocalist, Kehinde has recorded for, and performed with the Umoja Jazz Ensemble, the African Roots of Jazz, Ma’at Jazz and Performance Ensemble, the Houston Ebony Opera Guild, and the Prairie View A&M University Concert Chorale. Beginning her vocal studies at the age of 12, she trained with Norma Levister at UC Berkeley's Young Musician's Program until graduating from high school. Beginning as a dancer for the Imhotep Dance Ensemble, Kehinde performed for such legends as Katherine Dunham, and Winnie and Nelson Mandela. Specializing in Hip-Hop, tap, West African, Stepping, and Liturgical Dance, Kehinde has studied various dance styles under Linda Johnson, Lynn DeFazio, Laura Ellis, Nina Haft, and Eric Kupers. An instructor full of energy, and enthusiasm, Kehinde has taught dance for Stanford University, California State University East Bay, Berkeley City College and numerous elementary, junior high and high schools throughout the greater Bay Area. Kehinde is a praise and worship leader, and founder of Grace and Mercy Ministries, and Stopping Our Silence. She also facilitates workshops around the history and resolution of racism, and co-hosts weekly Facebook live conversations about such. You can find out more about the resolving racism FB conversations here:
Mrs. Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu, MBA
LPAA Chief Executive Officer / Music Director and Co-founding member and Music Director of Lyric Dance and Vocal Ensemble
Mrs. Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu, MBA is a coloratura soprano, dancer, educator and griot (historian, storyteller, entertainer, musician, praise singer). Taiwo began her vocal training at the age of 12 with David Tigner at UC Berkeley's Young Musician's Program, where she began singing opera and classically arranged Spirituals. She continued her vocal studies at Prairie View A&M University and California State University East Bay where she began musically arranging and studying the history/functional use of African American Spirituals. A consummate educator, Taiwo functionally uses performing arts to tell the history of African Americans, weaving inspiring and uplifting tales for audiences of all ages utilizing a combination of Spirituals, Gospel, Praise Dance and traditional West African dance and drumming. Taiwo is the writer and music arranger of “Go Tell It!”, an annual musical theater production that tells the story of Harriet Tubman leading her three brothers to freedom on Christmas day of 1854. Honored by the Friends of Negro Spirituals as a Negro Spirituals Heritage Keeper, Taiwo lectures on their development, correct historical context and the coding found within. Beginning her dance training with Linda Johnson at the age of 6,Taiwo specializes in Traditional West African, Jazz and Lyrical dance, and has taught various styles of dance for the past 21 years. Taiwo is an adjunct music professor for Berkeley City College, and a performing arts teacher at Madison Park Academy. Taiwo has a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance (with a minor in dance), a Master of Business Administration in marketing and is the co-founder and CEO of Lyric Performing Arts Academy. Taiwo is the current female co-chair of the Education Commission of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America. She also facilitates workshops on the history and resolution of racism, and co-hosts weekly Facebook live conversations about such. Find more about the Resolving Racism FB conversations here: https://www.facebook.com/kujichagulia.p.
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Ms. Juhandryn Dessames
​LPAA Chief Financial Officer / Theater Director and Co-founding member of Lyric Dance and Vocal Ensemble
Juhandryn Dessames is a sparkling talent with over 20 years of performance experience. Her performing arts career began in school with Cole Elementary Performing Arts Company under the direction of Peter Arizu. Then she began dancing on competitive drill teams. Ms. Dessames performed with the EBC drill team in San Jose where she performed in several local and out of state parades and competitions. Ms. Dessames has studied under such dance legends as Lynn DeFazio, Lynn Coles, Nina Haft, Eric Kupers, Laura Ellis, and Linda Johnson. Ms. Dessames has performed in several venues and music videos. Juhandryn is an alumni of Cal State East Bay with a BA in Liberal Arts and a minor in Dance/Theater. Ms. Dessames is a founding member of Lyric Dance and Vocal Ensemble and Lyric Performing Arts Academy. She is also a member of After Shock Dance Company. Juhandryn has worked in East Bay Area schools teaching dance and youth development for more than 10 years. Additionally, Juhandryn has more than 15 years of book keeping and non-profit management experience. She also co-facilitates workshops around the history and resolution of racism. Juhandryn is an Oakland native committed to community service and youth development.
Mr. Paris Dupree McClellan
LPAA Instructor
Vogue, Hip Hop/Pop, Belly Dance
Paris began his dancing career in 2003 after he failed to make the cut on his High Schools Step-Team. After spending a summer auditing and taking Dance Classes at De Anza College, he started learning the basics of dance. In his first 4 years dancing, he spent time dancing in the streets of San Francisco, San Jose, The Silicon Valley and Orange County learning various styles along the way. He has performed 3 years in a row at De Anza College Introspections Dance Show (’09-11) and 5 years at various events in San Francisco and San Jose. During this time he has worked and collaborated with many dancers from across the state. Paris has been an instructor with LPAA since 2016.
