Does your kid take dance?

[swanmom]

I have a question. At our DD's recital this weekend, an announcement was made that next year, instead of registering and paying for a semester of classes, families will be expected in August to make a year's commitment and pay for a year's worth of classes. For a number of reasons, I am not happy with this change. The instruction at the school is good but they already have a terrible reputation for never missing a chance to add a buck to their till. But before I 'kick up a fuss' at her dance school, I'd like to know if this is unusual or if other schools do it this way? Would you have a problem with this?

 

[cruisnfamily]

My DD's school offers this as an option....not a requirement. If you pay the years tuition in full you get 10% off the price. Nobody(or very few people) ever take them up on this. It's quite a chunk of change to lay out at once.

I wouldn't be happy if this was the only option. Plus, what if your child decides midway thru the year that they no longer want to take dance? Can you get your money back?

 

[Pop Daddy]

pay by the month

 

[DoeWDW]

My daughter is 14 and has just finished her first year of baton and dance lessons. We are expected to pay by the month with no penalty if she withdraws. I would be VERY reluctant to commit to a whole year, although when the kids were doing karate we had to pay for the year up front.

Our baton / dance school seems to find lots of ways to make an extra buck too. I don't begrudge anyone a decent living but after a while, I start to feel taken advantage of.

 

[Nancy]

My girls have danced at the same studio since my oldest was 4...she is now 16. We have always paid monthly. They give you the option to pay it all up front and receive a 10% discount..or spread it out in 10 equal payments. I always took the payment plan. I would never be able to afford to pay it all up front.

I think maybe the studio owner got burned by people not paying and then possibly pulling their kids out of classes. I know our studio has a problem with people not paying, and the office manager has to call them all the time.


And most studios never miss a chance to "stick" it to the parents.

 

[ripleysmom]

We pay upfront for the year but it is a program sponsored by the district and they only charge $90 per class for the year.

 

[swanmom]

Cruisinfamily - No, it's not optional. A full-year's commitment and payment is required to enroll.

Nancy - I wish it had a logical explanation like others failing to pay. But up until now, she has required full payment for a semester prior to the start of classes with no refund after the first class. So it's unlikely that this is a response to being 'stiffed.'

 

[SC Minnie]

DD just finished her 5th year and we pay by the month. If you do not pay the 1st class of the month you get a reminder at the second class- if tuition is not paid the next week your child is not allowed in the class.

I would not be able to afford the classes if they asked for all upfront.

 

[BabyTigger99]

Just my two cents worth. I am a dance teacher. Granted, I do not teach at a big, or even little studio, I teach for the local parks and rec department, and our tuition is only $70 a year (October to first week of March). I am just thinking that if they make you pay the full year, they are pretty much guaranteeing that the class size will stay at what it is set at. From experience, having kids drop halfway through the year when you are preparing for recital is a pain in the patookah, especially when you have already choreographed the routine based on the number students you had in the class in the beginning.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

My DD has been in dance for several years, and it has always been monthly. They ask for registration fee at the beginning of the fall/winter session, but it's a monthly fee after that. I would not be happy with the scenario you have described.

 

[KristiKelly]

DD takes dance, I pay an upfront registration fee (can't remember if I pay that yearly or a 1 time fee) and then I pay monthly. Paying yearly is an option & some choose that just so that don't have to worry about it. It would be hard to have to pay for it all upfront & probably for alot of others as well. I would question it & then look around for another dance academy, we don't live in a big city, but still have 3-4 dance schools in our area. Good luck!

 

[Robmom]

I pay $95 a month. If I had to pay upfront I would be in trouble. They would have to give a big discount in order for me to do it. Most likely I would go to another school if they forced me to do it.

 

[Kimberle]

Brittany takes ballet. There is a wonderful program called Kinderdance. The instructor comes to her pre-school. (No driving for Mom! )

We sign up for one session at a time, between 10-12 classes and pay for the entire session.

Since she will be in Kindergarten in the fall, I will have to sign her up at a studio.

The ballet studio's have either a full year (Sept - June) of 1/2 year program (sigh up and pay for all at once.) There are a couple of places like the YMCA which offer "sessions" of around 10-12 classes at a time (again, pay for each session up front.)

I've never heard of anyplace that offers a monthly payment schedule.

 

[aprincessmom]

We pay a registration fee up front and then make payments quarterly. If you miss the quarterly payment, your child can't come to lessons until you are paid up. You have to buy the recital costume in December (recital's in June).

Her last dance school you had to pay monthly...in cash. Also all costumes and recital tickets in cash. Always made me wonder what the studio owner did with all that cash.

 

[goofy4tink]

At dance studio we used to go to for 15+ years it was on a monthly basis and then starting in Feb you had to start paying for your costumes. At the studio we use now, we make 3 payments thu the year and there are no seperate costume payments. If you haven't paid your full tuition, you can't order recital tickets.

 

[Gretel]

registration fee
monthly payments for tuition
competition fees
costume fees
shoe fees
master class fees
the list is endless

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

Remy has dance from Sept to June and we pay 7. a week (one class a week). You can pay for it up front but there is no discount. I usually just pay a months worth at once (just like a bill ). I am glad we don't have to pay a year up front. OUCH!!

 

[Mimi Q]

My oldest DD has taken dance about 9 years. We pay by the month, and you can quit anytime.

 

[danacara]

I think dance is one of the best things you can do for a little girl. You can definitely tell the difference in high school among the girls who took dance and those who didn't. It gives you a comfort in sports and at proms - it adds to the confidence level.

 

[grinningghost]

Yes. This is her 11th year of dance. And I don't dare try and figure out how much money we've spent on it after all these years. I'd probably have a stroke.

Our DD's dance school is nice, but they're money grabbers too. All the fees for every little thing. The rehearsal fees are my favorite. After all the tuition, you'd think they could cover the darned rehearsals.

But after all is said and done, I do enjoy that she gets alot of exercise, has met some lifelong friends and she isn't hanging out on the street corners. Money well spent.