Dearborn Dance Academy

Specializing in Classical Ballet

Patricia Damian began her dancing career at the age of three under the direction of Pamela Dunworth. At the age of 15 she began student teaching at Pamela’s School of Dance and by the age of 17 was a full-time instructor. In 1991 Patricia purchased Pamela’s dance studio where she continues as the owner and artistic director of the Dearborn Dance Academy.

Patricia studied at Marygrove College under the direction of classical ballet teacher, Iacob Lascu for two years. During her time at Marygrove she was selected to perform in Detroit’s Channel 7 production of Cinderella.

She received extensive formal training while studying in New York City at David Howard’s School of Ballet. She also travelled to London, England to study classical ballet. She has attended numerous seminars under the direction of well-known choreographers including Ac Cuilla, Tommy Tune, and Frank Hatchett. She studied the Cecchetti method of ballet and passed Grades I through V in both the student and teacher examinations.

Patricia was a featured soloist with Dearborn’s Fairlane Ballet Company. She was also a member of the Detroit City Ballet. She was invited to perform at the Music Hall and has performed with the Allen Park Symphony, the Saginaw Symphony, the Dearborn Symphony and at the Henry Ford Estate’s “Evenings at Fairlane.” Other performances include the grand re-opening of Orchestra Hall and performances at the Redford Theater and the Detroit Institute of Arts. She was also selected to perform the Don Quixote pas de deux at the grand re-opening of the historical theater in Jackson, Michigan for distinguished audience members Betty Ford and Jane Powell. She appeared with other dancers on Kelly & Company to demonstrate and promote Joe Tremaine’s choreography.

Patricia is active in the Dearborn community. Working with the Friends of the Opera of Michigan, she choreographed "The Most Happy Fella," performed at the Dearborn Performing and Community Arts Center. She has taught dance and exercise classes at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Under her direction, the Dearborn Dance Academy has performed for local nursing homes and community festivals and in benefits for charities including the Dearborn Animal Shelter, the Michigan Humane Society and Bethany Christian’s Romanian Orphanage. Her students have also participated in Memorial Day parades for the cities of Dearborn and Northville.

Patricia Damian Mortens