Artistic Dance Academy was founded in 1963 by Ellen O’Quinn, a principal and soloist with the Metropolitan Opera House in West Germany. The school better known at that time as Ellen O’Quinn School of Dance. Mrs. O’Quinn retired in 1985. Her daughter, Patricia O’Quinn Warren became the director and the school became known as Artistic Dance Academy.

Patricia Warren, was trained by her mother in early years. She later studied with the Joffrey Ballet in New York, the N.C. School of the Arts and the Cusack Ballet in Los Angeles. Warren has performed throughout the United States and abroad.