well, you start out by realizing that you can count the days you have been doing 'ballroom' from the day you started taking lessons. Unfortunately, dance cannot be learned 'on the floor' from others who have zero technique - your typical 'old man showing a newbie how to do the 'basic step' is merely showing someone how to 'walk in time to music'....
Also, remember that 'intermediate' applies to a social dancer in a few months - to a real dancer in a few years. Think about how long most dancers take to learn their technique (in ballet for example). Then realize how 'easy' it was to simply memorize a boxy pattern. Not much quality or technique needed, eh? But you'd be surprised at how little a percentage 'quality' has to do with a social dancer's definition of a 'good' dancer.
You must be taking a group class or such. If you ask your teacher about medalist levels, and they poo poo it or don't know what you're talking about, then run.
bronze is the basic entry level. it is equivalent in the first 2 or 3 weeks to an advanced social dancer. It usually takes about a year of work to learn the technique involved.
silver introduces 2 dimensional shape and movement. It goes fairly quickly but it is a big step up.
Gold is the introduction of 3 dimensional dancing. Good posture and frame and a concept of musicality is needed here.
The ';list of steps' exists in the syllabus books that are sold by the ISTD for teaching this (yes, there is a syllabus, just like in every school situation - you certainly didn't think that a list of steps was available as a sort of 'checklist' so that a social teacher can have a new 'step of the week' did you LOL). These books are meant to be used with a good instructor. The 'steps' are descriptions of your WHOLE BODY, not just walking patters. You'll need to find another amateur to practicve with, so that you put these shapes into muscle memory, and hopefully drive out the awkward clumping that passes for 'social steps'. This is the hardest part - people who social dance a lot have, in their bodies, a lot of movements that are ingrained (remember that endless repetition of a bad movement is as real to your body as repetition of a good movement) and these need to be removed.
