What Happens When A Student Leaves Your Dance Studio
Rob Howarth
April 28 2025
5 min read
What Happens When A Student Leaves Your Dance Studio
Rob Howarth
April 28 2025
5 min read
What Happens When A Student Leaves Your Dance Studio
Rob Howarth
April 28 2025
5 min read
As a dance studio owner, you put all your effort into your students. You build a relationship with them, coax them out of their shells. You share their love of dance and experience the joy of mastering techniques with them. You share the excitement and nerves of their first show, competition, and seeing them ace their exams. It’s a journey. Built on trust and friendship.
There’s nothing like it. And then it ends. Abruptly.
With a ‘Sorry, I’m leaving your dance studio’ email.
Every dance teacher has been there. Getting that dreaded email explaining that a dance student will be leaving your studio. Your heart drops as the realisation settles in that you will never see that student again. Years of building relationships, nurturing and training them. Finished.
So, what happens next?
As a dance studio owner, you put all your effort into your students. You build a relationship with them, coax them out of their shells. You share their love of dance and experience the joy of mastering techniques with them. You share the excitement and nerves of their first show, competition, and seeing them ace their exams. It’s a journey. Built on trust and friendship.
There’s nothing like it. And then it ends. Abruptly.
With a ‘Sorry, I’m leaving your dance studio’ email.
Every dance teacher has been there. Getting that dreaded email explaining that a dance student will be leaving your studio. Your heart drops as the realisation settles in that you will never see that student again. Years of building relationships, nurturing and training them. Finished.
So, what happens next?
As a dance studio owner, you put all your effort into your students. You build a relationship with them, coax them out of their shells. You share their love of dance and experience the joy of mastering techniques with them. You share the excitement and nerves of their first show, competition, and seeing them ace their exams. It’s a journey. Built on trust and friendship.
There’s nothing like it. And then it ends. Abruptly.
With a ‘Sorry, I’m leaving your dance studio’ email.
Every dance teacher has been there. Getting that dreaded email explaining that a dance student will be leaving your studio. Your heart drops as the realisation settles in that you will never see that student again. Years of building relationships, nurturing and training them. Finished.
So, what happens next?
As a dance studio owner, you put all your effort into your students. You build a relationship with them, coax them out of their shells. You share their love of dance and experience the joy of mastering techniques with them. You share the excitement and nerves of their first show, competition, and seeing them ace their exams. It’s a journey. Built on trust and friendship.
There’s nothing like it. And then it ends. Abruptly.
With a ‘Sorry, I’m leaving your dance studio’ email.
Every dance teacher has been there. Getting that dreaded email explaining that a dance student will be leaving your studio. Your heart drops as the realisation settles in that you will never see that student again. Years of building relationships, nurturing and training them. Finished.
So, what happens next?
As a dance studio owner, you put all your effort into your students. You build a relationship with them, coax them out of their shells. You share their love of dance and experience the joy of mastering techniques with them. You share the excitement and nerves of their first show, competition, and seeing them ace their exams. It’s a journey. Built on trust and friendship.
There’s nothing like it. And then it ends. Abruptly.
With a ‘Sorry, I’m leaving your dance studio’ email.
Every dance teacher has been there. Getting that dreaded email explaining that a dance student will be leaving your studio. Your heart drops as the realisation settles in that you will never see that student again. Years of building relationships, nurturing and training them. Finished.
So, what happens next?
What's covered in this blog post: (Click on the section be taken straight to it)
What's covered in this blog post: (Click on the section be taken straight to it)
What Happens When A Student Leaves? Financially & Logistically Speaking?
Whenever a student leaves your dance studio, there's a financial implication that needs to be addressed, but many dance schools overlook it entirely.
Which can lead to:
Missing out on revenue
Giving away classes/hours of your time for free
Causing further friction in the relationship between the studio and the leaving party, with poor management of finances (especially if they owe you more or you owe them a refund).
Read on to find out how you can avoid this.
What Happens When A Student Leaves? Financially & Logistically Speaking?
Whenever a student leaves your dance studio, there's a financial implication that needs to be addressed, but many dance schools overlook it entirely.
Which can lead to:
Missing out on revenue
Giving away classes/hours of your time for free
Causing further friction in the relationship between the studio and the leaving party, with poor management of finances (especially if they owe you more or you owe them a refund).
Read on to find out how you can avoid this.
What Happens When A Student Leaves? Financially & Logistically Speaking?
Whenever a student leaves your dance studio, there's a financial implication that needs to be addressed, but many dance schools overlook it entirely.
Which can lead to:
Missing out on revenue
Giving away classes/hours of your time for free
Causing further friction in the relationship between the studio and the leaving party, with poor management of finances (especially if they owe you more or you owe them a refund).
Read on to find out how you can avoid this.
What Happens When A Student Leaves? Financially & Logistically Speaking?
Whenever a student leaves your dance studio, there's a financial implication that needs to be addressed, but many dance schools overlook it entirely.
Which can lead to:
Missing out on revenue
Giving away classes/hours of your time for free
Causing further friction in the relationship between the studio and the leaving party, with poor management of finances (especially if they owe you more or you owe them a refund).
Read on to find out how you can avoid this.
What Happens When A Student Leaves? Financially & Logistically Speaking?
Whenever a student leaves your dance studio, there's a financial implication that needs to be addressed, but many dance schools overlook it entirely.
Which can lead to:
Missing out on revenue
Giving away classes/hours of your time for free
Causing further friction in the relationship between the studio and the leaving party, with poor management of finances (especially if they owe you more or you owe them a refund).
Read on to find out how you can avoid this.
Why does it matter?
Most dance studios operate on structured payment schedules — whether it’s a 12-month plan, seasonal, or term-based. When a student leaves mid-way through a term or season, it can create financial confusion, especially if they’re paying in monthly installments.
So, the key question becomes:
Has the student paid for more than they received, or received more than they’ve paid for?
In other words, are they in credit and owed a refund? Or do they still owe you money?
(With Class Manager’s class management software, you can easily keep track of how much each student has paid and which lessons they attend. Making tracking your billing and payments easier.)
Why does it matter?
Most dance studios operate on structured payment schedules — whether it’s a 12-month plan, seasonal, or term-based. When a student leaves mid-way through a term or season, it can create financial confusion, especially if they’re paying in monthly installments.
So, the key question becomes:
Has the student paid for more than they received, or received more than they’ve paid for?
In other words, are they in credit and owed a refund? Or do they still owe you money?
(With Class Manager’s class management software, you can easily keep track of how much each student has paid and which lessons they attend. Making tracking your billing and payments easier.)
Why does it matter?
Most dance studios operate on structured payment schedules — whether it’s a 12-month plan, seasonal, or term-based. When a student leaves mid-way through a term or season, it can create financial confusion, especially if they’re paying in monthly installments.
So, the key question becomes:
Has the student paid for more than they received, or received more than they’ve paid for?
In other words, are they in credit and owed a refund? Or do they still owe you money?
(With Class Manager’s class management software, you can easily keep track of how much each student has paid and which lessons they attend. Making tracking your billing and payments easier.)
Why does it matter?
Most dance studios operate on structured payment schedules — whether it’s a 12-month plan, seasonal, or term-based. When a student leaves mid-way through a term or season, it can create financial confusion, especially if they’re paying in monthly installments.
So, the key question becomes:
Has the student paid for more than they received, or received more than they’ve paid for?
In other words, are they in credit and owed a refund? Or do they still owe you money?
(With Class Manager’s class management software, you can easily keep track of how much each student has paid and which lessons they attend. Making tracking your billing and payments easier.)
Why does it matter?
Most dance studios operate on structured payment schedules — whether it’s a 12-month plan, seasonal, or term-based. When a student leaves mid-way through a term or season, it can create financial confusion, especially if they’re paying in monthly installments.
So, the key question becomes:
Has the student paid for more than they received, or received more than they’ve paid for?
In other words, are they in credit and owed a refund? Or do they still owe you money?
(With Class Manager’s class management software, you can easily keep track of how much each student has paid and which lessons they attend. Making tracking your billing and payments easier.)
Sorting Out the Money When a Student Leaves
To figure this out accurately, you'll need a few key pieces of information:
The exact date the student is leaving — have the parents confirmed what their last class will be?
Any dates your studio was closed (e.g., Bank Holidays, Christmas, Easter)
The specific days and classes the student usually attends
How much the student has paid so far
How your billing is structured (ie, pay as you go, monthly, or annually)
Even being off by just one week can affect the balance significantly. That’s why dates, not months, should be the foundation of your refund or arrears policy.
Sorting Out the Money When a Student Leaves
To figure this out accurately, you'll need a few key pieces of information:
The exact date the student is leaving — have the parents confirmed what their last class will be?
Any dates your studio was closed (e.g., Bank Holidays, Christmas, Easter)
The specific days and classes the student usually attends
How much the student has paid so far
How your billing is structured (ie, pay as you go, monthly, or annually)
Even being off by just one week can affect the balance significantly. That’s why dates, not months, should be the foundation of your refund or arrears policy.
Sorting Out the Money When a Student Leaves
To figure this out accurately, you'll need a few key pieces of information:
The exact date the student is leaving — have the parents confirmed what their last class will be?
Any dates your studio was closed (e.g., Bank Holidays, Christmas, Easter)
The specific days and classes the student usually attends
How much the student has paid so far
How your billing is structured (ie, pay as you go, monthly, or annually)
Even being off by just one week can affect the balance significantly. That’s why dates, not months, should be the foundation of your refund or arrears policy.
Sorting Out the Money When a Student Leaves
To figure this out accurately, you'll need a few key pieces of information:
The exact date the student is leaving — have the parents confirmed what their last class will be?
Any dates your studio was closed (e.g., Bank Holidays, Christmas, Easter)
The specific days and classes the student usually attends
How much the student has paid so far
How your billing is structured (ie, pay as you go, monthly, or annually)
Even being off by just one week can affect the balance significantly. That’s why dates, not months, should be the foundation of your refund or arrears policy.
Why Is This Important & How Can It Be Prevented?
By calculating how much you’re owed, or how much you owe, when a student leaves, you may be surprised how often you’re owed more than you think. Every penny counts when you’re running a business, so make sure you don’t miss out on what you’re owed.
Need help figuring this out or setting up a system? Our customer success team is on hand to help. One of the key ways that these errors and confusions can be prevented is by ensuring that you have clear terms and conditions when your students sign up.
These don’t have to be confusing and can be as simple as including:
Notice Period - state clearly how much time a student or parent needs to give you before they leave, ie, one week, one month, etc.
Fees owed when leaving - whether all outstanding fees should be paid before the end of the notice period. Confirm if payment fees are refundable or non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy - If someone leaves partway through a season or month, clarify whether they still owe full fees or if there are partial refunds.
By having clear conditions when a student signs up for your school, you can help prevent any fee confusion if they do leave.
Why Is This Important & How Can It Be Prevented?
By calculating how much you’re owed, or how much you owe, when a student leaves, you may be surprised how often you’re owed more than you think. Every penny counts when you’re running a business, so make sure you don’t miss out on what you’re owed.
Need help figuring this out or setting up a system? Our customer success team is on hand to help. One of the key ways that these errors and confusions can be prevented is by ensuring that you have clear terms and conditions when your students sign up.
These don’t have to be confusing and can be as simple as including:
Notice Period - state clearly how much time a student or parent needs to give you before they leave, ie, one week, one month, etc.
Fees owed when leaving - whether all outstanding fees should be paid before the end of the notice period. Confirm if payment fees are refundable or non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy - If someone leaves partway through a season or month, clarify whether they still owe full fees or if there are partial refunds.
By having clear conditions when a student signs up for your school, you can help prevent any fee confusion if they do leave.
Why Is This Important & How Can It Be Prevented?
By calculating how much you’re owed, or how much you owe, when a student leaves, you may be surprised how often you’re owed more than you think. Every penny counts when you’re running a business, so make sure you don’t miss out on what you’re owed.
Need help figuring this out or setting up a system? Our customer success team is on hand to help. One of the key ways that these errors and confusions can be prevented is by ensuring that you have clear terms and conditions when your students sign up.
These don’t have to be confusing and can be as simple as including:
Notice Period - state clearly how much time a student or parent needs to give you before they leave, ie, one week, one month, etc.
Fees owed when leaving - whether all outstanding fees should be paid before the end of the notice period. Confirm if payment fees are refundable or non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy - If someone leaves partway through a season or month, clarify whether they still owe full fees or if there are partial refunds.
By having clear conditions when a student signs up for your school, you can help prevent any fee confusion if they do leave.
Why Is This Important & How Can It Be Prevented?
By calculating how much you’re owed, or how much you owe, when a student leaves, you may be surprised how often you’re owed more than you think. Every penny counts when you’re running a business, so make sure you don’t miss out on what you’re owed.
Need help figuring this out or setting up a system? Our customer success team is on hand to help. One of the key ways that these errors and confusions can be prevented is by ensuring that you have clear terms and conditions when your students sign up.
These don’t have to be confusing and can be as simple as including:
Notice Period - state clearly how much time a student or parent needs to give you before they leave, ie, one week, one month, etc.
Fees owed when leaving - whether all outstanding fees should be paid before the end of the notice period. Confirm if payment fees are refundable or non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy - If someone leaves partway through a season or month, clarify whether they still owe full fees or if there are partial refunds.
By having clear conditions when a student signs up for your school, you can help prevent any fee confusion if they do leave.
Planning an event or recital?
Visit our sister company, Stage Stubs
for all your ticketing needs.
Free for studios.
© Class Manager 2025, All Rights Reserved
Email Us
Contact Sales
Planning an event or recital?
Visit our sister company, Stage Stubs
for all your ticketing needs.
Free for studios.
© Class Manager 2025, All Rights Reserved
Resources
Planning an event or recital?
Visit our sister company, Stage Stubs
for all your ticketing needs.
Free for studios.
© Class Manager 2025, All Rights Reserved
Email Us
Contact Sales
Planning an event or recital?
Visit our sister company, Stage Stubs
for all your ticketing needs.
Free for studios.
© Class Manager 2025, All Rights Reserved