Tuition/Fee Schedule

Students who enroll at Dramatic Truth by paying a registration fee are entitled to take classes at a yearly (Sept-May) rate which is payable either in full at registration or monthly throughout the year.  Our tuition schedule is based on classes for the entire family, not for each individual student.  Therefore, classes taken by students within the same family may be added together to achieve greater discounts.  This policy reflects Dramatic Truth’s desire to support and strengthen families.

For those not enrolled at Dramatic Truth, classes are available at a single class rate of $15 (not including private lessons) and is payable at the time of the class.  The single class fee is only available for students who are not enrolled at Dramatic Truth and is subject to staff approval based on skill level and whether the class is appropriate for the individual.

Two Payment Options Available

1. ONE-TIME: Pay total tuition for the year from class registration to May 31, 2012.  Due within 30 days of class registration. A 5% discount is available for those that choose this option and pay within the 30 days of registration.
2. MONTHLY: Total tuition for the year is divided equally over each month between class registration and May 31, 2012.  Tuition is due the first of each month.

Once a payment option is chosen, it cannot be changed until August registration of the following year.

Number of Classes per Week per Family	Yearly Tuition*(Sept ‘11-May ‘12)	MonthlyPayment
Boy’s Athletic	419.00	49.00
Wee or Pre-Ballet-1class	419.00	49.00
1	462.00	54.00
2	761.00	89.00
3	1018.00	119.00
4	1274.00	149.00
5	1488.00	174.00
6	1702.00	199.00
7	1873.00	219.00
8	2043.00	239.00
9	2215.00	259.00
Each add’l class over 9	154.00	18.00

* The 5% discount is already reflected in this amount.

Tuition Fee Schedule and Payments

Tuition payments may be made by cash, check, or money order.  Whichever method you choose, please be sure you clearly identify who and what the payment is for.  You may place your payment in the Dramatic Truth drop box at the studio, or you may mail or bring your payment to the following address:

               Dramatic Truth Business Office

               1001 Highgrove

               Grandview, MO  64030

 

If you do choose to mail your payment, keep in mind that late fees are based on the date payment is received at one of the two places mentioned above.  We recommend using the drop box since it is checked for payments every day that Dramatic Truth has classes.

The registration fee is $25 per student.  Payment of this fee permits a student to register and begin classes at any time during the school year.  Early registration is being conducted on two dates only: Tuesday, August 23 and Thursday, August 25.  (Please refer to your registration letter for details.)  The registration fee for those who attend one of these sessions is $15 per student. 

Payment for each month is due at the first class of that month.  There is a grace period for tuition payment until the 10^th of each month.  A $10 late fee will be assessed to your account for any payments received after the 10^th. Tuition payments may be made by cash, check, or money order.  Whichever method you choose, please be sure you clearly identify who and what the payment is for.  If you do choose to mail your payment, keep in mind that late fees are based on the date payment is received at one of the two places mentioned above.  We recommend using the drop box since it is checked for payments every day that Dramatic Truth has classes.

1. Notification on the 11^th of the first month of non-payment by a late notice handed out in class.
2. After 10 days (around the 20th of the month) there will be a follow up phone call.
3. At the end of first month of non-payment, there will be a notification by mail about unpaid balance. This invoice will also include the upcoming month in the balance.
4. If payment is not made by the 10th of the second month, an account statement will be mailed which includes an offer to meet with a Dramatic Truth representative to set up a payment schedule, possibly involving a reduction in classes, with the goal of resuming full class schedule as soon as the account is up to date.
5. If by the end of the second month the account is still not current and no payment arrangements have been made, a notification letter will be mailed stating that the student will not be allowed to continue classes until the account is current. Personal or phone contact will also be made to help resolve any issues.

There will be a $20 charge for any check not honored by your bank, whether for insufficient funds or any other reason.

If you decide to add or drop classes from one month to the next, it is important to notify the business office beforehand as any changes may affect the tuition amount you are charged. If a student is making any class changes, a one month notice is required in writing. Students will be charged a $25 fee if no notification is given before the change occurs. Student is responsible for all tuition incurred until written notification of changes is made to business office. DT is under no obligation to refund monies paid without the notice of dropping.

DT does not follow the school calendar or school closing policy of the school district where we are located. We are closed Thanksgiving weekend (except for scheduled rehearsals), Christmas Break, Good Friday Weekend, Spring Break, Memorial Day, and July 4.

Any changes or cancellations due to weather will be updated on the business office answering machine (816-767-9222) by 2:00 pm during the week and 8:00 am on Saturday. 

Missed classes may be made up in a class at the same level, the level below, or with instructor approval, a level above.  The time frame for making up classes is generally within one month of the missed class. Contact Anita if a large number of classes are missed to discuss options for make up classes.  A student MUST currently be enrolled in the appropriate level during any month in which make-up classes are taken.  “Banking”, or accumulation of make-up classes in order to avoid paying monthly tuition, is not allowed.  Full tuition payment for the month is always expected whether or not missed classes have been made up.

Occasionally, a teacher may take the class on a field trip to a concert or other location. This is to enrich the dancers understand of their craft. These outings are optional. If class is cancelled due to a field trip and the student does not want to participate in the field trip, they can make the class up as described above. Release forms will be supplied to be signed before the student can attend. Concert costs may be incurred by the student.

Please note that pro-rating monthly tuition due to missed classes, whether for sickness, vacation, or any other reason, is not an option.  Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to the business office.

Rehearsal absences must be communicated both in writing and verbally and approved at least 7 days in advance.

Each school year, Dramatic Truth stages one or two major productions, one being The Mystery of Christmas, and the other, a concert in the spring.  The primary purpose for these productions is to provide an opportunity for students to use their skills in a performance setting.

Student participation in major productions is optional.  All students who wish to participate in The Mystery of Christmas must make a verbal commitment to do so by October 1, 2011. Each student is also required to pay a performance fee. There is no costume fee for The Mystery of Christmas.  Performance fees for The Mystery of Christmas are due by October 15, 2011.  The performance fee schedule is as follows:

First student in family                                    $60.00

Second student in family                               $50.00

Third student in family                                   $40.00

Each additional student in family               $30.00

Little cowgirls/cowboys                                 $30.00

Bethlehem DT students                                   $30.00

Costumes for The Mystery of Christmas are provided by the school.  Dancers are responsible for expenses incurred for personal items such as tights, shoes, white shirts, etc.

Since monthly tuition payments are divided equally over the school year, full December tuition is still due even with the shortened schedule because of Christmas.  All families involved in Mystery of Christmas pay regular December tuition as well as the performance fee.  Please note that the hours students and teachers put into rehearsal and theater time is equal to or exceeds actual hours in the classroom. Rehearsal time and theater time is invaluable experience for our students. It teaches not only choreography but theater skills such as make-up, stage presence, acting and group cooperation. We also have an abbreviated holiday class schedule in December.

For spring productions, students may be required to purchase or rent a costume in addition to performance fees.  It is suggested that families budget $100 per student for costume purchases/rentals. If the student is in multiple classes, multiple costume costs will be incurred.   It is unknown at this time if there will be a Spring 2012 concert.

Dramatic Truth conducts fundraising events for the purpose of supplementing our normal sources of revenue.  The funds generated by these events have been crucial to the on-going success of the organization, particularly during the summer months. All families are required to participate in selling Price Chopper and HyVee coupon books during the months of March-May.

The coupon book sales event has been chosen because it is a useful item that sells easily, and generates a good return for the organization.  Each student must sell a minimum of 10 books at a price of $5 each or to purchase the books for $50.  Prizes are awarded based on the number of books sold. Other fundraisers regarding specific needs or events may be conducted throughout the year.

It is important to understand that because Dramatic Truth is an organization that unashamedly espouses Christian beliefs and principles, we are somewhat limited in our access to public funding.  Unlike scouting and other secular youth-oriented organizations, our contributions typically come only from individuals and other Christian organizations.  Therefore, we tend to rely more heavily on fundraising events to make tuition and other costs as affordable as possible. The board of Dramatic Truth would like to express their gratitude to our families and students for all past support and participation.

Wee Ballet through Ballet IIC students are placed according to age and development. In order to test into Ballet III, a Ballet IIC student must pass a physical test. Physical and written tests are conducted as students advance from Level III to graduation. (See the Performance Requirements section of the handbook).  In February of the year, students and their parents will meet with the teacher of their level to discuss and determine how the student is progressing. During this meeting the teacher will also discuss advancement and future goals of the student. 

Each July, the staff of Dramatic Truth conducts testing classes to evaluate students who are interested in advancing to the next level. The testing fee for physical tests is $20 per student per test. For the written test, each student will be loaned a DVD and a workbook to study for the test. If the testing materials are not returned in good condition at the time of testing, an additional $25 charge will be assessed to the account to cover the cost of these materials.  Upon completion of testing, the student is given a written and/or verbal assessment, along with class placement recommendations and a plan for future improvement.