Fees and Fee Schedule
Registration Fee:
$35, due prior to the start of fall classes each year. The fee is required in order to register for any class and hold your spot. Non-refundable. NOTE: If your child drops classes mid-year and then returns, the registration fee will need to be paid again at the time of enrollment.
Placement Class Fee:
$15 (45 min class), $20 (60 min class), or $25 (90 min class), due prior to scheduled placement class. Level placement is made at the teacher's discretion. Non-refundable.
Outstanding Check and Mailing Fee:
There will be a $10 charge for all mailed outstanding bills, and a $25 charge for any returned checks.
Multiple Child Discount:
If more than one child from the same immediate family is enrolled in classes at NSB, there is a 10% monthly discount for the second child, and a 15% monthly discount for the third and any additional children.
Studio Rental:
Our studios are available to rent on a first-come, first-serve basis and at the discretion of NSB. We charge a minimum of $50 per hour fee per studio, depending on its use, and require a signed contract.
Private Classes:
Private lessons are available by request on a first-come, first-served basis as studio space allows. Rates for private classes by Director are $75/hour (NSB student) or $150/hour (non-NSB student), and by Instructor are $60/hour (NSB student) or $120/hour (non-NSB student). These rates are applicable for guest teaching, choreography, and any other instruction within or without North State Ballet. Recognition to instructor must also be provided in all social media posts.
Schedule of Payments:
For each semester, you must re-enroll your student in their new classes. If your child officially drops classes during a given semester, you must notify the front desk immediately via email notice. When your child is enrolled in a class, we are reserving that spot for your child. If you do not officially drop a class prior to the start of a new month, you will be required to pay for that month. NSB has a no refund policy. You are responsible to follow the due dates and to call if you are not returning to classes. We do not prorate missed classes.
There will be a $15 late fee charged for any late payments.
Students will not be allowed to participate in their scheduled classes if tuition is overdue.
Summer classes are the exception to this rule, as they are charged by the session. Payment is due on the first day of your child's class.
Uniform Costs:
Students are expected to adhere strictly to the NSB dress code for their assigned level in order to participate in class(es). Families are responsible for supplying the required color of leotard (ordered through Dance Away in downtown Chico), as well as any additional costs including tights, ballet shoes, pointe shoes, pointe supplies, hair supplies, etc.
Level Promotions:
Recreational/Open and Children's Programs: Students are advanced to the next level in the fall session only and are placed by age as of October 1st for that school year.
Classical Program: Advancement is done exclusively in the fall, as determined by the decision of the faculty after a placement class. This placement is an invitation, not a promise, and is dependent upon that student continuing to train over the summer months.
Note: Taking a break over summer puts the dancer approximately three months behind their peers who choose to train, and they may be held back in the fall in spite of the level they were invited to at the end of the previous school year. All decisions for level placement are made by the artistic administration and are final.
Tuition Rates:
Tuition rates are charged by the total number of hours taken each week. Each level has a minimum required number of hours. Beyond that, students may opt into additional classes in our North State Dance program, which include lyrical, jazz, contemporary ballet, tap, hip hop, etc. There is a tuition cap of $280 per month. Tuition is paid monthly and is non-refundable, as mentioned above. September and January tuition is due in advance in order to hold a spot for the upcoming semesters and is non-refundable. Families who choose to pay for an entire semester at once will receive a 15% discount off their total.
To qualify for participation in the end of the year Student Showcase, dancers must be enrolled in that class for a minimum of eight weeks.
We have a limited amount of financial aid available. See our front desk for details.
If your child is enrolled in our ATP program, there are additional fees throughout the year not included below. Click here for more information.
Extra Charge for Untimely Drop-off/Pick-up:
Students may not arrive more than 15 minutes early to their class, nor may they be picked up more than 15 minutes after their last class of the day ends. For students arriving or leaving beyond this 15 minute allowance, a $1/minute fee will be added to your account to be paid when the next tuition cycle is run.
Safety Policies
Keeping our students safe is of utmost priority.
NSB will cancel its classes when needed and/or when the Chico Unified School District chooses to close due to inclement weather, health or safety threats, or any event outside of our control in regard to Mother Nature, etc. We do not prorate or refund classes that are canceled for these reasons.
All dancers under the age of 10 must be escorted to and from the building by a parent/adult caregiver and may not be left unattended in the building outside of their scheduled class time. It is highly recommended that parents of children in the Children's Program (ages 7 and under) remain at the studio during their child's class time if possible.
Please, no strollers inside the studio lobby.
No child will be allowed to leave the studio with someone other than the parent unless there is written permission by the parent and given to the faculty.
Street shoes must be worn when outside (not dance shoes).
All students must remain inside the building when waiting to be picked up. No child will be allowed to wait outside or on the curb.
Students must be dropped off and picked up within 15 minutes of the beginning and end of their class(es) unless other arrangements are specifically made with our faculty.
There will be at least two staff members in the building during scheduled class times. At least two adults must be present in the building during private classes.
If there are opposite genders within the classroom at the same time, viewing areas will be open and clear.
General Policies
NSB will not prorate, refund, or credit classes that are canceled due to inclement weather, health or safety threats, or any event outside of our control in regard to Mother Nature, federal/state/county mandates, etc.
Students failing to comply with NSB policies and guidelines (including but not limited to behavioral expectations) will, after an initial personal redirection from the instructor, be placed on probation. If the problem continues, the next step is a suspension or expulsion which may result in the forfeiture of the student's participation in classes, performances, and/or ATP where applicable, per the directors’ discretion. Certain situations my require an immediate expulsion without probation or suspension per the director's discretion.
NSB reserves the right to refuse service to anyone at any time.
Students arriving more than 10-15 minutes late may not be allowed to participate that day per the instructor’s discretion. This is done to protect them from possible injury. Our Classical Ballet Program students may be asked to sit inside the classroom and take notes on that day’s lesson.
Students must abide by the full dress code, including the level-specific leotard color, in order to participate in class(es). Students may wear a plain black leotard until their uniform order arrives.
If your child is unable to attend his/her normally scheduled class(es), he/she may make-up any missed class(es) before or after the absence(s) in the same level or in a lower level class in the same semester.
Make-up classes do NOT carry over from session to session.
Make-ups for missed classes are ONLY available if the student/parent alerts the front office staff and/or class instructor prior to the beginning of the missed class.
For students in the Classical Ballet Program, three or more tardies or absences per session will require a meeting with Co-Artistic Director(s) Laurel Tennant, Gabrielle Chaplin, and/or Heather Wysong before the student may continue in the program. This is done to ensure that the student can physically keep up with the demands of their class schedule, thus minimizing injury and maximizing their training and growth.
If an account is overdue, students will be suspended from all required classes and dropped from all non-required classes until the account is current. Their position(s) in class(es) will not be reserved, and they will be allowed back in only if there is still space and at the discretion of the instructor.
Please refrain from cell phone use while in our lobby. All calls must be taken outside except in the case of severe stormy weather (or if you're the only one inside the lobby at the time). This helps keep a focus on the children and the noise levels at a minimum. If your child uses a video game device or something similar, there must be no sound whatsoever (earbuds are highly recommended).