the dance within~ about Claudine

Claudine McCormick is the owner and instructor of The Dance Within LLC.

She is also the director of the Jewels of the Nile and Diamonds teen troupes. Claudine’s philosophy is to facilitate body awareness and self-confidence through teaching belly dance.

Claudine's inspiration for the dance comes from watching her students blossom at any age from 3 years old to 83. Observing her students and dance sisters having "fun", smiling, and feeling good about themselves and their bodies is what drives her as a teacher.

Women and girls come to her classes for many reasons: for fitness, to learn a new dance form, to be in a sisterhood of other women, to make friends, to dress up, and maybe eventually perform….what ever the reason she wants her students to have fun and feel safe while learning this dance.

Claudine blends her knowledge of Middle Eastern Dance with her background as a certified team-builder, her experience promoting self-esteem in girls and women, and her Degree in Sociology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She inspires all females to have fun while discovering their beauty within..

Claudine currently teaches a variety of classes at The Dance Within Studio: Belly Dance (beginner and intermediate), BellyFit, Teen Troupes and offers private lessons.

Claudine has taught belly dance for both Bainbridge Island and Poulsbo Parks and Recreations Departments, health clubs, local studios and schools, The Boys and Girls club, and provided dance workshops for The Lighthouse for the Deaf and Blind, Women's Outdoor Conferences, Girl Scouts, The San Francisco Library and IslandWood on Bainbridge Island. She has been the guest instructor and guest dancer for Hasani’s Hafla.