2025-2026 Policies
- Placement: The age cutoff is 10/15/26. Baby Ballerina dancers are 18 months to 3 years old. Preschool dancers are 3-4 years old. PreDance dancers are 5-6 years old. We use “level” for all dancers 6 & Up to determine class placement. They are as follows unless otherwise indicated by the director: Beginning Level– 2nd-3rd grade with two years of PreDance or 7+ years with 0-1 years of training. Intermediate– 4th graders and up with 2+ years of training (not including Preschool and PreDance). Progressive– 7th grade and up with 4+ years of training (not including Preschool and PreDance). Advanced– 8th grade and up dancers with 4+ years of training (not including Preschool or PreDance). Director approval is needed for all wishing to enroll in the Progressive and Advanced level. Each guideline should be used for the genre dancer in which the dancer will enroll. For example a 12 year old who has two years of prior Jazz training would be considered Progressive for Jazz but Intermediate for all other techniques (Ballet, Modern, Tap etc.)
- Dress Code: SDP requires students to wear leotards to all technique classes such as Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz or Conditioning. We do require specific color leotards depending on ballet class level and require solid black (only) bottoms (dance shorts, leggings) for tap, modern & jazz. Preschool/PreDance students may wear a one piece dress or skirt to tap and jazz. Tights in either Pink or Tan are required for all ballet and pointe classes. Ballet skirts in same color as leotard or in black are also allowed. Hip Hop students should wear black and white tennis shoes (high top converse style). All students must have their hair up off their neck and face in something other than a ponytail that will be secure for the length of the class. See more on dress code requirements under “policies” tab of our website. Tuition and Fees:
Tuition is due on the 1st of each month, and a credit card is required to be kept on file. The registration fee is due upon account approval—no more than 48 hours after registering—and will be charged to the card on file. Monthly tuition will be charged to the card on file on the 5th of each month unless it has already been paid. A $10 late fee will be applied to any account with payments received after the 8th. Students will automatically be dropped from any class if their account is more than 30 days past due. Reinstatement once an account is brought up to date will be at the discretion of the Director. A costume deposit is due on September 15th, and the remaining costume balance is due on November 15th; both will be charged to the card on file unless already paid. Recital fees are $150 per dancer and will be charged on March 1st. All tuition and studio fees are non-refundable. There are no discounts for months with fewer than four weeks of instruction, nor are there additional charges for months with more than four weeks. Tuition is charged monthly but is based on a 36–38 week season. We reserve the right to remove or combine any class from our schedule that does not maintain at least four registered students at any time.
Costume Fees: Fees range from $70-$100 per class. A deposit of $45 per class is due on Sept. 15th. with final payment for each costume due on Nov. 15th.
Recital Fee: Recital Fee is $150 and due on March 1st. Recital fee goes to pay for venue rental, venue staff, lights, props, student trophy and recital t-shirt. You will also receive two (2) complimentary tickets to the recital once your final tuition payment (along with any remaining balance) is paid.
Returned Check Fee: Any accounts with returned checks will be charged a $30 inconvenience fee.
Withdrawal: We understand that there may be unforeseen circumstances that require a student being withdrawn early from a season. We require a 30 day written notice of withdrawal so our staff can make adjustments to choreography and (if applicable) wait listed students can be contacted. Your notice must accompany a final payment for the last 30 days of class. If proper notice can not be submitted, a final bill will be issued for an additional month and charged to the credit card on file.
Communication: SDP requires an active email for communication. You should receive a bi-monthly email with important information and dates (i.e. picture week, dress rehearsal schedule). If you do not, please check with the front desk. Please “LIKE” us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for the latest updates.
Attendance/Make Up Class: Attendance is very instrumental in establishing the structure and discipline dance requires. We ask that you give 24 hour notice whenever possible for a student’s absence.This allows the instructor to have ample time to reconfigure the curriculum for class that evening, not only so the other students do not have to suffer, but also so the absent student can jump back into class with little frustration the following week. If a student is absent more than 3 times per session (fall or spring), they may be removed from parts of the choreography, a decision that is at the discretion of the instructor and studio director only. Excessive absences may result in removal from recital piece(s) permanently. A student may be given an opportunity to make up classes they have missed if an appropriate and comparable class is available or with a private lesson. Arrangements to attend a make-up class must be made with the front desk 2 weeks prior to the class. This will ensure the instructor is given a reasonable amount of time to make adjustments to class curriculum and give each student a fulfilling class experience.
Late pick-up fee: $1 fine per minute will be charged for any student that is not picked up within 10 minutes of class time dismissal.
Calendar and Inclement Weather: Our studio calendar will follow the 2026-2027 Carroll County School system’s closing for Winter Holiday and Spring Break. Please download our closing schedule off of our website or pick up a calendar at the front desk. Reminders of studio closings will be posted on our facebook page. In cases of inclement weather we will use the weather advisories from the state and make a final decision no later than 2p on the day of the weather event. If afterschool programs are closed, we may choose to close our studio as well. Notice will be posted on our Facebook page, on Instagram and on voicemail in such situations. Make-up classes may be scheduled for classes with multiple cancellations and notice will be given to parents via email.