Registration & Tuition

Discounts

• The Sibling Discount applies to families with at least two children enrolled in any program at the same time. A 10% discount will be automatically applied to each eligible student’s class tuition. 
• The Military and First Responders Discount applies to families with active service members, veterans, and their spouses or active emergency personnel, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and 911 dispatchers. A 10% discount will be automatically applied to each eligible student’s class tuition. 

Payment Terms

Tuition and costume fees are non-refundable once classes have begun. A non-refundable annual registration fee of $30 per student (max. $60 per family) is required. Tuition may be paid in installments throughout the school year (if the balance is over $400) or by session in full. The first month’s (September) tuition is due at the time of registration. For autopay, tuition is charged on the 1st of each month. 

Credit Card Convenience Fee

A 2.75% fee on each transaction will be added to all credit card payments to offset the processing fee DCM must pay to the credit card processor. We will continue to accept other payment methods, including cash or paper checks which carry no additional charge.

Autopay

Families with a tuition balance over $400 can have a credit card charged automatically for tuition in monthly installments.  To have the payment automatically processed, families must choose the recurring billing option when registering. Tuition is charged on the 1st of each month, with the first installment due upon registering. Autopay is not available for the summer session. A $10 admin fee will be charged per session to your account.

Late Payments

A late fee of a $30 minimum will be assessed for payments over five business days past due. Students who have overdue payments will not be permitted to attend class.

Withdrawal
A student withdrawing from The Dance Conservatory’s program during the school year must provide the school with written notice at least one day before the upcoming session start date. If a postmarked notification or email is not received by the appropriate date, the student is considered to be continuing participation in the subsequent installment periods, and payment is required.

If a student withdraws during the program, prorated refunds of tuition fees may be granted only in cases where a student has been instructed by a doctor to discontinue the program due to an illness or injury. A doctor’s letter verifying the student’s inability to continue the program due to an illness or injury must be received prior to the end of the program for any refunds to be considered.

Session Cost: Refer to the tuition chart to the left.

Open/Drop-In Class Cost

Single 60-minute class - $30

Single 90-Minute Class - $35

Professional Rate* -  $25

* Professional Rate for dance instructors or dancers employed by a dance company*

Male students ages six and up receive a full scholarship if enrolled in at least one weekly ballet technique class, in addition to the Boy's/Men's class and one recreational class. Participation in the June Concert is also required. 

Male students taking recreational program classes receive a 50% scholarship (including Creative Movement and PreBallet & Tap). 

Scholarships do not cover registration fees, performance classes, costumes, summer programs, or Ballet Chesapeake fees.

All DCM students who receive a scholarship for the school year must submit and sign DCM’s Scholarship Acceptance Agreement. Failure to comply with the scholarship terms will result in a verbal warning. Any such verbal warning may be followed by complete revocation of the scholarship award. 

Work/Study scholarships are limited for families and dancers at the advanced level of study, available to assist with studio maintenance and/or administrative duties. Please get in touch with the school office for details. 

All students who receive a scholarship award, full or partial, are subject to a Scholarship Fee for the school year. The Scholarship Fee helps subsidize administrative expenses necessary to support DCM’s scholarship programs. Scholarship recipients are not eligible for other discounts in combination with his/her scholarship(s). Scholarships cover tuition only.