Payment Policies
Tuition
Tuition is based on an entire season of dance. For 2026-2027, our season will run from August 17th through Recital (mid-May). All dancers are required to pay for the entire season. If you enroll mid-season, we will prorate your tuition based on when you begin dancing with us. Tuition is based on hours taken per week. It is not based on the number of classes in a month or on attendance. There is NO refund for missed classes as there are make-up classes offered. A processing surcharge will be added to credit card payments in accordance with our payment processor’s terms. Families who wish to avoid this surcharge may choose ACH/bank draft as their payment method when available.
You may pay the entire season in full or pay it in installments. Installments are due the 1st of each month (Sept 2026 - May 2027) and will be automatically billed to the card on file on the 1st of each month.
Sunny Squad payment policies differ, check Sunny Squad handbook for more info.
Registration Fee
Registration fees are non-refundable.
Autodrafted Payments
All monthly tuition payments, Recital costume payments, Recital fees, and any other mandatory fees will be auto drafted to the card on file. You will be emailed a receipt after your tuition is auto drafted. Recital Fees will be drafted on November 16, 2026 (or at time of enrollment if enrollment happens after Nov. 15). Initial recital costume deposits will be auto drafted on January 15, 2027. Secondary costume deposits (if applicable) will be auto drafted on February 17, 2027. You must let the studio know in writing by December 12th (or at time of enrollment if after that date) if your dancer is not able to participate in Recital (via email to info@sunnyvaledanceacademy.com). Cardholders agree to give Sunnyvale Dance Academy permission to charge their credit card or bank account provided.
In Studio Concessions
We offer a variety of concessions and small items for purchase at the studio, including snacks, drinks, and limited merchandise.
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All prices are posted at the studio and may vary by item or event.
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Concessions Payment Options:
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Cash Discount: Pay in cash at the time of purchase and receive a discounted rate.
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Account Charge: Have your purchase added to your SDA account and auto-charged mid or end of month.
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Late Fee
If your card on file is declined, an alternate payment must be made within 48 hours. A $20 late fee will be charged for any payments not made in full by the 5th day after the charge is billed. This includes declined charges for cards on file for any reason. An additional $20 late fee will be charged for any payments not made in full by the 10th day after the charge is due. Your dancer will be withdrawn if payment is not made by the 10th day after the charge is due.
Credit Card Surcharge & Refund Policy
Families may avoid all processing fees by enrolling in ACH/Bank Draft payments.
A surcharge is applied to payments made by credit card and is charged by our payment processor. Sunnyvale Dance Academy does not retain these funds.
In the event of a refund, tuition, registration fees, recital fees, costume fees, and other charges will be refunded according to the applicable studio policies. Credit card surcharges and processing fees are non-refundable, as these fees are collected and retained by the payment processor and are not returned to the studio.
To avoid processing fees altogether, families are encouraged to select ACH/Bank Draft as their preferred payment method.
Studio Policies
General Rules
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No food/drinks other than water inside studios.
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Students should not bring cell phones, air pods, or smart watches into the dance room. If dancers are wearing these in class, they will be asked to remove & take to the front desk until class is over.
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No parents, friends, or siblings are allowed in dance rooms & we ask observers to avoid distracting dancers by tapping on the glass, talking loudly, gesturing, etc). This is for the benefit of all dancers who will learn more if we have their complete attention.
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No street shoes allowed in the dance room.
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Abide by the studio/class dress code as listed on our website.
Arrival/Dismissal
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Dancers 6 & Below- You will need to escort your dancer to and from the dance room. Dancers should use the restroom before class to avoid accidents and disruptions in class.
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Dancers 7 & Up- You are welcome to escort your dancer to and from class if you would like to do so. If your dancer is unaccompanied, please be sure to only drop off 15 minutes before their scheduled class time and pickup 15 minutes after. We are not responsible for monitoring children in the lobby.
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Makeup Classes
If your dancer misses due to illness or other personal reasons, they will be able to make up for the missed class in a similar class. There will be no discount or refund given for missed classes. There are no make-ups for classes missed when the studio is officially closed for holidays, etc. All classes missed due to inclement weather can be made up. You can schedule your dancer’s makeup class through the Parent Portal by selecting a similar class with available space. Makeups must be used within one month of the missed class. There will be NO makeup classes allowed the week of our Spring Recital or a Very Vale Christmas Performance.
Inclement Weather Policy
SDA generally follows local ISD decisions for weather closures. In the event of a closure, we will notify families via email, text, and social media. Classes missed due to weather may be made up within one month.
Withdrawal Policy
We require a 31-day written notice via email if you need to withdraw from SDA. Please email info@sunnyvaledanceacademy.com to withdraw from our 2026-2027 season. To initiate the 30-day withdrawal period, families must also complete SDA’s Withdrawal Request Form. The 31-day notice period begins only after both the 1) withdrawal email and the 2) completed form are received. After the 30-day notice, we will terminate your monthly installment, or, if a full year was paid, we will refund the remaining installments minus 30%. We reserve the right to charge any outstanding tuition fees at the time of withdrawal.
This withdrawal policy remains in effect even if we have a shelter in place mandate from the federal, state or local government. In the event of a shelter in place, classes will convert to virtual classes and instruction will continue.
Trial Class Policy
We’re happy to offer one free trial class for new students if space is available. Trial classes must be scheduled in advance through our office. After your dancer attends, we’ll follow up to discuss registration options.
Dress Code
Proper shoes & attire must be worn to participate in class. Hair should be pulled back off the face for all classes. Don't forget to write your name in all shoes, bags, etc. You can find descriptions and examples of the proper attire for each class here. Note: The shoes listed will be the shoes required for Recital. Please pay attention to the color/style and if you have any questions, please contact our office at info@sunnyvaledanceacademy.com prior to purchasing. For our 3rd-8th grade ballet dancers who are required to wear black leotards, dancers may wear colored leotards the first week of the month.
Door Shade Policy
To ensure our students are focused & able to maximize learning we have door shades which help to block out distractions from noise and parents in the windows. With that said, we also want our parents to have the opportunity to view/track their dancer's progress so we have created a system that balances both considerations.
Door shades/windows will be open:
1. For ALL sparkle classes (other than in late March/April when working on Recital dances)
2. First 2 weeks of the season
3. First week of the month open (other than right before recital - April/May)
4. When we have a student trialing a class or a new student
5. Sunny Weeks and/or class parties
Class Transfer & Admin Fee
A $35 administrative fee applies per dancer for any class transfer that changes style or reduces total weekly class time; lateral switches into the same class on a different day/time are exempt.
Code of Conduct & Dismissal
SDA reserves the right to dismiss any student or family for disruptive behavior, ongoing late payments, or actions that negatively impact the studio environment. We are committed to providing a respectful, kind, and inclusive space for all dancers and staff.
