From student haflas to the Bellydance Superstars, I've seen any number of "theater-style" bellydance shows over the years. Some have been quite enjoyable, regardless of dancer skill level, a few not so much. I thought I'd quickly point to two things I expect from these types of shows (Note: I'm not talking about the traditional restaurant-style show where 1 to 3 solo dancers perform 20-minute sets to live music; what I mean are shows where a number of solo and group dancers perform a variety of dance pieces, usually to recorded music and often with an overarching theme).
First, the skill level of the dancers should be appropriate for the venue, and the show should be advertised accordingly. If the event is primarily a "student showcase," the best place to hold it would be at the teacher's studio or a rented hall, or possibly a restaurant, as long as the audience knows what to expect. If the show is touted as a professional-level show, then all the soloists should be professional-level, and in group pieces (usually a professional dancer backed by her students), the backup dancers should be as close to professional-level as possible.
The other thing I expect is variety. I enjoy all different styles of bellydance, from traditional to experimental, but I don't want to see two hours of the same thing, no matter how talented the dancers are. Maybe this is a sign of my short attention span more than anything, but no matter. Student/semi-professional shows are pretty good in this regard, since there's usually no "theme" set for these events, but I've been a bit bored a few times by productions that were nothing but fast-paced Egyptian cabaret, or nearly all tribal fusion, etc.
If a show meets the above criteria, it's a pretty sure bet that I will enjoy it. Of course, there will always be a few minor gripes (the piece that just went on too long, a jarring choice of music or costume, etc.) and I guess I should also mention "keep things in good taste" (although in all the shows I've seen, I've almost never seen anything that was outright vulgar), but otherwise, as a consumer, if the dancers' skill level meets my expectations and I get to see varied types of performances, I'm happy.
