If and when the dancer enters, she commands the stage and your attention. That is the most difficult thing to master. Some say you have to be born with it, but I think it can be developed and that is: presence.

Call me shallow,
but I alway check jewellery first, then eyes second ( If I am close enough!)
I guess I am just obsessive!!

S x

B. Fantastic renditions of the music.

Being a drummer, I've performed with dancers for many years, so the rendition of the music means most to me.
It doesn't matter how drop-dead gorgeous a dancer is, how thin, how huge, woman or man, ...as a drummer I need a strong creative ally.

I never really thought of what I look at first. Somehow I am able to tell from my first impression if I will enjoy the rest of the dance or not. However, the one thing that I do look for subconsciously (I think), during the performance is how well the dancer flirts.

Her choice of music first, then i look at her interpretation of the music, and whether she is enjoying the performance, only then if i'm bored or unimpressed, i'll look at her costume etc .

I too, notice the choice of music, and especially how she/they choreograph accordingly. Its such a letdown when the two don't come together . I saw that happen several times at Rakassah and felt badly for the troupes , and wondered what their teacher was thinking. But when it is a fit, its great, no matter how skilled the dancers are.

I don't specifically look for anything, but within the first few minutes I can tell if I will like the dancer, or not, or in between. (scale 1-10). But what really is a deciding factor for me is stage presence. It's that thing that you can't quite explain, it's not the looks, it's not the body, costume, music, not even her dancing.
It's hard to define.
The choice of music will not do it for me. I have seen my favourite pieces butchered by a dancer, and also saw dancers perform to the most boring music and did it so beautifully that I loved it. However, if I see a dancer perform to pop music, I will not like her, no matter what.

I have seen dancers in not so great costumes, not so great bodies, faces, but loved them because of how they danced.

I have seen dancers executing perfect movements with perfect technique, but with a bored to death face, no energy, no acknowledgement of her audience, and I hated it.

I've seen dancers literally doing no more that 5-6 movements, and the crowd was going crazy.

I think you can't quite define what makes a dancer really, really great and better than others - you just feel it. That's why I'm not looking for anything - I know I will have a feeling, either great, really bad, or mediocre.

For me it is posture, presence & confidence. If a dancer has poor posture that to me immediately shows poor skills and habits so I will be turned off right away even if the dancer is connecting emotionally to the music.