Policies on Tuition Payment and Refunds
PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY
The adult listed on the enrollment form will be held responsible for tuition being paid each month, regardless of any additional arrangements made among family members (ex: if parents in different households agree to alternate payments of tuition, ONE person must be the responsible party. It is not the studio's responsibility to remember whose turn it is to pay, or to pursue the other party if payment is missed). Please notify the studio in writing if the responsible party changes, with all pertinent information to create a new account for the new party. Without the necessary information, the studio will continue to bill the original, and this person will be held responsible for all payments and late fees applied before the studio was informed in writing. The responsible party cannot be changed more than once a year. It is assumed that the adult paying tuition is also the primary contact. Please inform the studio if this is not the case.
ADULT DROP-IN CLASSES
Classes intended for adult students are run on a drop-in basis. Classes can be paid for singly or by purchasing a class card. Class cards entitle the purchaser to attend multiple classes before the expiration date listed. The number of classes will be listed. Cards are good for use in any adult classes, unless otherwise specified. Classes are deducted from the total based on attendance. The purchaser is not entitled to a refund on unused classes. No refunds or transfers will be issued on single-rate drop-ins that have been paid for but not attended. Parents of children enrolled in classes can opt to pay monthly tuition instead, as long as the child remains actively enrolled as well.
TUITION PAYMENTS
Tuition is posted to accounts on the 20th of the month before it is due. Payments can be made online or in person during regular class hours any time after tuition is posted and before auto-pay is run on the 1st. All students enrolled in children's classes during the regular season will be required to activate auto-pay. Charges for dancewear and additional items can also be left on your account to be automatically debited on the 1st with tuition. Payment will be the same amount each month, regardless of the number of classes attended, as long as the course load is understood to remain the same.
If a student opts to pause or delay their attendance, tuition is still due to hold their place in class. Failure to pay tuition will result in the dancer's removal from the class roster until the account is brought current, including a reinstatement fee.
Payments not received by the 10th of the month in which they are due are subject to a 10% late fee. Payments not received by the 1st of the following month will result in the dancer's removal from the class roster until the account is brought current.
ADDING COURSES
Parents may notify the director of their students’ desire to add courses at any point as long as the desired classes are still open and the student meets eligibility requirements. See below regarding dropping courses.
BOYS IN BALLET
Male students of an age for Purple level and above may enroll in ballet at their appropriate age level free of charge when they also enroll in other styles of dance. All other genres are full price. They must be enrolled in and paying for classes in other styles in order to take ballet at no charge. Below Purple level, ballet is offered in combination with other dance styles.
DROPPING COURSES
Parents must notify the director of their students’ desire to drop courses BEFORE the next tuition payment falls due. Once the next payment is due, the parent remains responsible for making that payment. Without notification, tuition will continue to be charged regardless of attendance. Class sizes are limited, based on students’ age range and ability. You are paying for a place on a limited roster, which means we cannot offer that place to anyone else, and have probably turned away other students who were interested. So please be courteous when you are considering the possibility of dropping courses. An exception will be made to this policy if the family dropping the course is able to refer another student to take their place (referral discount will be waived in this case).
SEMESTER PRE-PAY
You may pre-pay for the full year for a discount of 10% off the total. Invoices will be issued July 15, with payment due by September 1. Payments made more than 10 days late will result in late charges being applied. Failure to pay by October 1 will result in your dancer's removal from classes. You will remain responsible for tuition for the time of enrollment. Just like monthly payment options, there are NO refunds on tuition already paid.
FAMILY DISCOUNTS
Families with more than one dancer who have not yet reached the unlimited family rate: Take 20% off the amount of second and subsequent dancer's tuition. The dancer with the higher tuition total will pay full price, and the discount will be applied to the lesser. This discount applies ONLY to family members whose tuition is being paid from the same source. (If grandma is paying for Cousin A and Cousin B, grandma gets a discount. If mom is paying for Cousin A and grandma is paying for Cousin B, no discount is applied. If Sibling A lives with mom and Sibling B lives with dad and each of their tuition is being paid by the parent they reside with, no discount is applied.) Family rate is capped at $387/month for unlimited classes for all family members, as defined above.
NEW STUDENT REFERRALS
Current dance families whose accounts are in good standing may refer new students for a discount of 20% off of the following month's payment - or credit for one free class for adult drop-in participants - for each new student who enrolls at Etudes (those who pay annually will have the equivalent amount credited to their account for use in other purchases). This discount may be combined with any others, with no limits on the number of students who may be referred, as long as class sizes can accommodate. The new student may not be a sibling, parent, or child of any current student, live in the same household, have tuition being paid by - or otherwise be financially dependent on - the same person as the referring student. The new student may not be one who has been enrolled with Etudes previously. Both the new student and the current student must notify the director of the referral relationship within two weeks of the new student’s enrollment, or the discount cannot be awarded. (In other words, it is your responsibility to make it known. Kara will not chase you down to ask.) The discount will be applied to the following month, after the referred student has made their first tuition payment.
ATTENDANCE
It is the student's prerogative to attend classes on a regular basis. Missed classes are not eligible for pro-rating or refunds. This includes classes missed when the dancer is injured but ambulatory. Observation of regular class is encouraged under these circumstances. We even have an observation questionnaire for them to fill out as they watch class. In the event of canceled classes due to weather or other circumstances, students are invited to make up the missed class by attending another style class at the same level, or the same syle at one level up or down. The director will have recommendations. Students may also make up missed classes in this manner once per month, per class missed (If your dancer missed modern and one ballet class, they may make up these two classes by attending different classes. If they miss modern again in the same month, they may not make it up.) Classes missed during a long-term injury can be made up over a longer period once the dancer has been cleared to return to physical activity, to be discussed by the director, dancer, and parent. Please notify the director of your desire to make up missed classes.
REFUNDS
There are NO refunds given on tuition already paid. Dance and other related performing arts require a certain level of commitment from the student and the student’s family in order for the student to be successful. NO refunds are given if a student is suspended or dismissed from a course or from the school for behavior or other problems. Tuition paid may NOT be transferred to another student whose tuition is not being paid from the same source (please see requirements for family discount eligibility).
There are NO refunds given on fees already paid for workshops, master classes, summer courses, and special events for missed attendance. In the event a course, workshop, master class, or summer course must be canceled by the studio, whether due to low attendance or other circumstances, compensation will be offered first in the form of credit toward future courses or master classes. If circumstances do not allow for the student to attend future courses (ie: the student is only in town for a brief period of time, will be relocating, or will not be available for the next desired course or class), a refund may be issued at the sole discretion of the director. This may happen ONE time only. If the student attempts to return after claiming to be unable to do so, their enrollment will be declined.
COSTUMES AND PERFORMANCE UNIFORMS
For regular, inclusive performances like recitals and community appearances, Etudes utilizes a standard concert uniform. We retain these items at the studio and issue each student the requisite pieces each year for their use as needed. New students will pay a fee of $50 for the studio to obtain the necessary pieces. Returning students will pay a fee of $25. These fees go toward the rental and maintenance of these pieces in our collection. These fees will be collected with October tuition. All of these items are labeled and marked and a record will be kept of which pieces are issued to each student. The student is responsible for the welfare of all items issued to them. These items must be returned to the studio at the end of the season, in good condition. Students who do not return their items, or return them in a damaged state that renders them unusable, will be charged an additional fee for their replacement, equal to the retail value of the item(s).
We do utilize traditional costuming for The Nutcracker and for our competition team. These items are also owned and maintained by the studio and are expected to be returned within two weeks of the conclusion of their use. Students will pay a flat fee of $100 for rental and maintenance of Nutcracker costumes, regardless of the number of roles assigned, and $50 per costume for use and maintenance of competition costumes. Nutcracker fees will be due no later than November 1 and can be collected in the form of local business sponsorships. Competition costume fees will be included in the total you are given for your dancer's involvement. All of these items are labeled and marked and a record will be kept of which pieces are issued to each student. The student is responsible for the welfare of all items issued to them. Replacement fees for lost or damaged items will begin at $100 and increase according to the studio's cost to replace the item.
The adult listed on the enrollment form will be held responsible for tuition being paid each month, regardless of any additional arrangements made among family members (ex: if parents in different households agree to alternate payments of tuition, ONE person must be the responsible party. It is not the studio's responsibility to remember whose turn it is to pay, or to pursue the other party if payment is missed). Please notify the studio in writing if the responsible party changes, with all pertinent information to create a new account for the new party. Without the necessary information, the studio will continue to bill the original, and this person will be held responsible for all payments and late fees applied before the studio was informed in writing. The responsible party cannot be changed more than once a year. It is assumed that the adult paying tuition is also the primary contact. Please inform the studio if this is not the case.
ADULT DROP-IN CLASSES
Classes intended for adult students are run on a drop-in basis. Classes can be paid for singly or by purchasing a class card. Class cards entitle the purchaser to attend multiple classes before the expiration date listed. The number of classes will be listed. Cards are good for use in any adult classes, unless otherwise specified. Classes are deducted from the total based on attendance. The purchaser is not entitled to a refund on unused classes. No refunds or transfers will be issued on single-rate drop-ins that have been paid for but not attended. Parents of children enrolled in classes can opt to pay monthly tuition instead, as long as the child remains actively enrolled as well.
TUITION PAYMENTS
Tuition is posted to accounts on the 20th of the month before it is due. Payments can be made online or in person during regular class hours any time after tuition is posted and before auto-pay is run on the 1st. All students enrolled in children's classes during the regular season will be required to activate auto-pay. Charges for dancewear and additional items can also be left on your account to be automatically debited on the 1st with tuition. Payment will be the same amount each month, regardless of the number of classes attended, as long as the course load is understood to remain the same.
If a student opts to pause or delay their attendance, tuition is still due to hold their place in class. Failure to pay tuition will result in the dancer's removal from the class roster until the account is brought current, including a reinstatement fee.
Payments not received by the 10th of the month in which they are due are subject to a 10% late fee. Payments not received by the 1st of the following month will result in the dancer's removal from the class roster until the account is brought current.
ADDING COURSES
Parents may notify the director of their students’ desire to add courses at any point as long as the desired classes are still open and the student meets eligibility requirements. See below regarding dropping courses.
BOYS IN BALLET
Male students of an age for Purple level and above may enroll in ballet at their appropriate age level free of charge when they also enroll in other styles of dance. All other genres are full price. They must be enrolled in and paying for classes in other styles in order to take ballet at no charge. Below Purple level, ballet is offered in combination with other dance styles.
DROPPING COURSES
Parents must notify the director of their students’ desire to drop courses BEFORE the next tuition payment falls due. Once the next payment is due, the parent remains responsible for making that payment. Without notification, tuition will continue to be charged regardless of attendance. Class sizes are limited, based on students’ age range and ability. You are paying for a place on a limited roster, which means we cannot offer that place to anyone else, and have probably turned away other students who were interested. So please be courteous when you are considering the possibility of dropping courses. An exception will be made to this policy if the family dropping the course is able to refer another student to take their place (referral discount will be waived in this case).
SEMESTER PRE-PAY
You may pre-pay for the full year for a discount of 10% off the total. Invoices will be issued July 15, with payment due by September 1. Payments made more than 10 days late will result in late charges being applied. Failure to pay by October 1 will result in your dancer's removal from classes. You will remain responsible for tuition for the time of enrollment. Just like monthly payment options, there are NO refunds on tuition already paid.
FAMILY DISCOUNTS
Families with more than one dancer who have not yet reached the unlimited family rate: Take 20% off the amount of second and subsequent dancer's tuition. The dancer with the higher tuition total will pay full price, and the discount will be applied to the lesser. This discount applies ONLY to family members whose tuition is being paid from the same source. (If grandma is paying for Cousin A and Cousin B, grandma gets a discount. If mom is paying for Cousin A and grandma is paying for Cousin B, no discount is applied. If Sibling A lives with mom and Sibling B lives with dad and each of their tuition is being paid by the parent they reside with, no discount is applied.) Family rate is capped at $387/month for unlimited classes for all family members, as defined above.
NEW STUDENT REFERRALS
Current dance families whose accounts are in good standing may refer new students for a discount of 20% off of the following month's payment - or credit for one free class for adult drop-in participants - for each new student who enrolls at Etudes (those who pay annually will have the equivalent amount credited to their account for use in other purchases). This discount may be combined with any others, with no limits on the number of students who may be referred, as long as class sizes can accommodate. The new student may not be a sibling, parent, or child of any current student, live in the same household, have tuition being paid by - or otherwise be financially dependent on - the same person as the referring student. The new student may not be one who has been enrolled with Etudes previously. Both the new student and the current student must notify the director of the referral relationship within two weeks of the new student’s enrollment, or the discount cannot be awarded. (In other words, it is your responsibility to make it known. Kara will not chase you down to ask.) The discount will be applied to the following month, after the referred student has made their first tuition payment.
ATTENDANCE
It is the student's prerogative to attend classes on a regular basis. Missed classes are not eligible for pro-rating or refunds. This includes classes missed when the dancer is injured but ambulatory. Observation of regular class is encouraged under these circumstances. We even have an observation questionnaire for them to fill out as they watch class. In the event of canceled classes due to weather or other circumstances, students are invited to make up the missed class by attending another style class at the same level, or the same syle at one level up or down. The director will have recommendations. Students may also make up missed classes in this manner once per month, per class missed (If your dancer missed modern and one ballet class, they may make up these two classes by attending different classes. If they miss modern again in the same month, they may not make it up.) Classes missed during a long-term injury can be made up over a longer period once the dancer has been cleared to return to physical activity, to be discussed by the director, dancer, and parent. Please notify the director of your desire to make up missed classes.
REFUNDS
There are NO refunds given on tuition already paid. Dance and other related performing arts require a certain level of commitment from the student and the student’s family in order for the student to be successful. NO refunds are given if a student is suspended or dismissed from a course or from the school for behavior or other problems. Tuition paid may NOT be transferred to another student whose tuition is not being paid from the same source (please see requirements for family discount eligibility).
There are NO refunds given on fees already paid for workshops, master classes, summer courses, and special events for missed attendance. In the event a course, workshop, master class, or summer course must be canceled by the studio, whether due to low attendance or other circumstances, compensation will be offered first in the form of credit toward future courses or master classes. If circumstances do not allow for the student to attend future courses (ie: the student is only in town for a brief period of time, will be relocating, or will not be available for the next desired course or class), a refund may be issued at the sole discretion of the director. This may happen ONE time only. If the student attempts to return after claiming to be unable to do so, their enrollment will be declined.
COSTUMES AND PERFORMANCE UNIFORMS
For regular, inclusive performances like recitals and community appearances, Etudes utilizes a standard concert uniform. We retain these items at the studio and issue each student the requisite pieces each year for their use as needed. New students will pay a fee of $50 for the studio to obtain the necessary pieces. Returning students will pay a fee of $25. These fees go toward the rental and maintenance of these pieces in our collection. These fees will be collected with October tuition. All of these items are labeled and marked and a record will be kept of which pieces are issued to each student. The student is responsible for the welfare of all items issued to them. These items must be returned to the studio at the end of the season, in good condition. Students who do not return their items, or return them in a damaged state that renders them unusable, will be charged an additional fee for their replacement, equal to the retail value of the item(s).
We do utilize traditional costuming for The Nutcracker and for our competition team. These items are also owned and maintained by the studio and are expected to be returned within two weeks of the conclusion of their use. Students will pay a flat fee of $100 for rental and maintenance of Nutcracker costumes, regardless of the number of roles assigned, and $50 per costume for use and maintenance of competition costumes. Nutcracker fees will be due no later than November 1 and can be collected in the form of local business sponsorships. Competition costume fees will be included in the total you are given for your dancer's involvement. All of these items are labeled and marked and a record will be kept of which pieces are issued to each student. The student is responsible for the welfare of all items issued to them. Replacement fees for lost or damaged items will begin at $100 and increase according to the studio's cost to replace the item.