Jess Warfield is a choreographer who is the owner and director of a dance studio in Westlake Village, California. Academy of Dance Westlake Village is a full-service dance studio open to all ages and levels, regardless of whether you want to compete or just enjoy dancing.

Jess is a Thousand Oaks native who has worn many hats in the dance industry, from running a major dance convention and being a competition director for various studios across the country, to behind the scenes jobs such as lighting design and stage managing.

We talked to Jess about her studio, her faculty and students and what makes them stand out from other dance companies.

"Our kids don't care how great you are, how long you've been dancing, or what you look like, or how many followers you have - our kids are a family."

An important focus at ADW is to keep the studio a judgment-free zone and maintain a welcoming atmosphere. According to their mission statement, "We believe that everyone should have the chance to experience all that dance has to offer in an atmosphere free of judgment and negativity."

For more information, contact ADW at academyofdancewestlake@gmail.com or visit their website.