Remember last week when I rambled on about the expectations of Silver level dancers? Now I'll finish the theme off with the ye olde Gold level expectations.
First of all, most dancers don't need or want to get to the Gold level because it's mainly for competitive dancers (in American style [Smooth or Rhythm]). They are very few people who can lead or follow Gold figures (because it takes so long to master Silver), so as a social dancer, it's not a necessary goal. It is completely acceptable to spend a lifetime at the Silver level.
As with moving up to Silver, you should be doing all the Silver stuff already, and just adding a new layer of Goldness on top. When you're learning the Gold level steps (otherwise known as choreography, if you're an American style dancer), you should be ready for some challenging syncopations and positions, dancing apart from your partner once in awhile, and maybe a fancy trick or two.
But mostly, I want to see WHY you're doing all that nonsense.
If you are a competitive dancer, and you want to do Gold, you have to embrace your inner Miley Cyrus. Wait, no. Your inner Meryl Streep. Yes, let's go with her. Note: do not channel Miley Cyrus.
In other words, my Gold Stars, you need to perform. Express. Act. Tell me a story. The Gold level is the level where I want to forget about your "moves" (because you're doing them soooo well) and see what you have to say. Figuratively.
Your tango should not be happy. Your swing should not be sad. Your rumba could have an eye flutter in it. Your foxtrot could have hip motion.
Take each dance you're working on and write down (yes, write it, like, on paper) one word that describes that dance to you. Check it:

Then, put on the appropriate music and and get your groove on with that descriptive word in mind. It might help to practice this in your house... alone.
You will feel stupid the first few times. You will probably have loved ones tell you you make silly faces. You may have an instructor tell you that your emoting is not actually showing through on your face. (I like to call that "inemoting".) But keep practicing. Because, one day, the clouds will part and the angels will sing and you will make an appropriate Waltz Face.
It will be glorious.
It will be Gold.
Remember...
Bronze: What, When
Silver: How
Gold: Why
In that order. Please don't show me Why before you have What, but that's a rant for another day.
nea.
One year ago: The Long Mile, where I complain about running.