Fees & Payment Information

At Dakoda’s Dance Academy, we believe in being clear and transparent about our fees, payments and cancellation arrangements so that families know exactly what to expect.

Our regular classes are booked and paid for termly, following the private school term timetable throughout the year.

There are three terms and three term payments each academic year.

When a student accepts a termly place, that place is reserved specifically for them and our teaching staff, studio space and class capacity are planned accordingly.

Fees may vary slightly depending on location, class length and programme.

Class Fees

• 15-minute class: from £4.90
• 30-minute class: from £13.50
• 45-minute class: from £16.50–£18.50
• 60-minute class: from £19.50

Our fees reflect the length and content of each session, venue costs and the experience and expertise of our teaching team.

Your exact class and term fee will always be confirmed on your invoice.

Termly Payments

Regular classes are charged once per term.

Payment is normally collected by Direct Debit through GoCardless.

Before the following term, Dakoda’s will send a renewal invoice confirming:

• your child’s class;
• the forthcoming term dates;
• the total term fee;
• the date on which the Direct Debit will be collected; and
• the final date by which you must tell us if your child will not be returning.

We will normally send this information around one month before the scheduled payment date, giving families time to review their next-term booking before the renewal deadline.

The exact dates that apply to your booking will always be those shown on your renewal invoice.

Your Child’s Place for the Following Term

Existing students are given priority for their current class and their place will be reserved during the renewal period shown on the invoice.

If your child will not be returning for the following term, you must notify the Dakoda’s office in writing no later than five working days before the Direct Debit payment date stated on your invoice.

A working day means Monday to Friday, excluding public and bank holidays in England.

The exact non-renewal deadline will be clearly stated on your renewal invoice.

You may tell us at any time before that deadline that your child will not be returning.

After the Renewal Deadline

If we have not received written notice by the stated deadline, your child’s booking will renew for the following term and will be treated as a fixed-term commitment for that term.

The term fee will become payable and the Direct Debit will be processed on the payment date shown on your invoice.

No ordinary change-of-mind cancellation is available after the renewal deadline.

This is because Dakoda’s commits your child’s class place, teacher, studio or venue and available class capacity for the forthcoming term.

Exceptional circumstances will be considered fairly in accordance with the Dakoda’s Master Customer Booking Terms and applicable consumer law.

How to Tell Us You Are Not Returning

All non-renewal and cancellation requests must be made in writing directly to the Dakoda’s office.

Email: info@dakodasdanceacademy.com

Telling a teacher, teaching assistant, venue or another member of staff does not constitute notice unless the Dakoda’s office has received and confirmed the request.

Cancelling Your Direct Debit Does Not Cancel Your Booking

Cancelling a Direct Debit mandate through your bank does not constitute notice that your child is leaving Dakoda’s.

It does not automatically cancel a confirmed booking or remove any payment obligation that has already arisen under that booking.

If your child will not be returning for the following term, you must notify the Dakoda’s office before the five-working-day renewal deadline stated on your invoice.

Once a Direct Debit has entered the banking process, Dakoda’s may no longer be able to prevent the payment from being collected.

Where Dakoda’s agrees to a late cancellation or refund after the renewal deadline, any amount retained will be limited to reasonable net loss actually incurred, including genuinely non-recoverable payment-processing, venue or other committed costs, after taking into account costs saved and any ability to refill the place.

Failed or Unpaid Payments

Families are responsible for ensuring that a valid Direct Debit mandate is in place and that payment can be collected on the date stated on the invoice.

Where a scheduled payment fails, is cancelled or remains unpaid, Dakoda’s will make reasonable attempts to contact the Booking Adult.

If payment remains unresolved, Dakoda’s may release the reserved place and offer it to another student.

Releasing a place does not automatically determine any outstanding amount due. Any amount claimed will be dealt with in accordance with the Master Customer Booking Terms, taking into account services no longer supplied, costs saved and whether the place has been filled by another student.

Trial Classes

A paid trial consists of two scheduled sessions in the same class, unless stated otherwise at the time of booking.

Only one trial period is available per student per class.

A trial does not guarantee an ongoing place. Confirmed termly bookings have priority.

Cancelling or Moving a Trial

To cancel or move a trial session, the Dakoda’s office must be contacted at least 48 hours before the affected session.

Where sufficient notice is given, we will offer one reasonable transfer or refund the undelivered trial session.

A session missed or cancelled within 48 hours is normally charged because the place and staffing have already been reserved, subject to statutory rights and our ability to refill the place.

Continuing After Your Trial

If your child wishes to continue after their trial, Dakoda’s will confirm whether a continuing place is available.

If the term has already started, the fee will normally be adjusted so that you are charged for the remaining scheduled classes in that term.

Once the continuing place has been accepted and confirmed, your child is booked for the remainder of that term.

The booking is then a fixed-term commitment.

Cancellation During a Term

Once a student has accepted and joined a term, the booking is for the whole of the remaining term.

Dakoda’s does not operate regular children's classes on a pay-as-you-go basis.

A termly booking cannot ordinarily be cancelled partway through the term simply because a student no longer wishes to attend.

No refund, credit or replacement class is normally due where a class is missed or a student withdraws because of:

• short-term illness;
• holidays;
• school events;
• transport difficulties;
• personal timetable changes; or
• another change of mind or personal commitment.

This is because the student’s place, teacher, venue and class capacity remain committed.

Serious Injury or Medical Circumstances

Where a serious injury or medical circumstance prevents a student from participating for a substantial part of the term, please contact the Dakoda’s office.

Suitable supporting evidence may be requested.

Dakoda’s will consider the individual circumstances fairly and may consider a transfer, credit or fair refund for the unused part of the booking, taking into account committed costs, costs saved and whether the place can reasonably be refilled.

Short-term illness and minor injuries do not normally qualify.

Private Tuition

Private tuition is available for students who would benefit from focused, personalised one-to-one coaching.

Private tuition: £135 per hour

Private tuition may include:

• a highly qualified Dakoda’s teacher; and
• studio hire or travel to your home, where included in the individual booking.

Your booking confirmation will make clear any studio, venue or travel arrangements and any additional or non-recoverable venue costs that apply.

Private tuition can be particularly beneficial for technical development, exam preparation, audition preparation, confidence building, individual corrections and specific personal goals.

Private Tuition Cancellations

All private tuition cancellations and amendments must be made through the Dakoda’s office.

A teacher cannot independently approve a commercial cancellation, refund, credit or booking change.

Where cancellation is made more than 72 hours before the session, Dakoda’s will refund or credit the balance after any disclosed and genuinely non-recoverable studio, venue or third-party cost.

Some studios and hired venues operate their own longer cancellation periods or non-refundable hire arrangements. Where this applies, the relevant condition or non-recoverable venue cost will be made clear as part of the booking.

At 72 hours or less before the session, the full fee is normally payable because the teacher’s time and, where applicable, studio or venue capacity have already been reserved.

A missed or same-day private session is normally charged in full.

Where Dakoda’s avoids or recovers a material cost, this will be taken into account where fairness requires it.

Refunds and Your Legal Rights

Nothing in this policy removes or restricts your statutory consumer rights.

Where Dakoda’s agrees or is legally required to make a refund, it will normally be returned to the original payment method within 14 days after the amount has been agreed or the legal obligation to refund arises.

Any amount retained following a cancellation will reflect reasonable net loss, including genuinely committed costs and lost capacity, after taking into account costs saved and reasonable opportunities to refill or rebook the place.

Important Summary

Dakoda’s regular classes are booked and paid for by the term, not by the month.

Before the following term, you will receive a renewal invoice confirming your child’s class, the term fee, the Direct Debit collection date and your non-renewal deadline.

If your child will not be returning, you must notify the Dakoda’s office in writing no later than five working days before the payment date stated on your invoice.

If we do not receive notice by that deadline, the following term becomes a confirmed fixed-term commitment and the term fee becomes payable.

Cancelling your Direct Debit does not cancel your booking.

Once a student has joined a confirmed term, ordinary change-of-mind cancellation during that term is not available.

If you have any questions regarding fees, payment dates, term dates, class suitability or your booking, we are always happy to help.

Email: info@dakodasdanceacademy.com