Is it appropriate for a dancer to go all out with a atan and costume in gold level latin?

It depends.

If you are in the US and dancing in a USABDA-sanctioned amateur event, then you are not allowed to wear costumes.

If you are in the US and dancing in a collegiate amateur event, you need to check that event's rules for costuming. Some allow costumes for gold level, some don't.

If you are in the US and dancing in a NDCA-sanctioned amateur event, you need to check that event's rules for costuming. Many don't allow costumes for closed-syllabus amateur events.

If you are in the US and dancing in a Pro/Am event, then you definitely should go all out and wear a costume and tan!

Laura

Actually I have an opposite question. Is it appropriate to compete pro/am without a tan? I just do not like neither kind of tan - UV ages your skin, especially that articificial one in the tanning booths and for chemical tan I have too sensitive skin and just do not want to experiment.

The over-tanned look, for right or wrong, is currently the accepted and expected grooming for competitive Latin. I think it's stereotypical and rather silly, but so be it.

If you're going to go without tan, wear a costume that doesn't show as much skin. Basically, the more skin you show, the more people are going to think that you need a tan.

One look that people were experimenting with was wearing black fishnets with black Latin sandals, rather than going bare-legged and super-tanned. Maybe something like that can work for you. Think really classy and elegant rather than overtly sexy and wild.

Good luck! I, for one, love to see people being creative with their look, rather than doing what everyone expects them to do.

gold level tanning is so artifical looking, bronze level tan looks much more natural

In case you do decide to try the chemical tan, just know that I have the most insanely sensitive skin known to man and I've never had a problem. You should be okay.