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Direction

The direction of the march or the war dance (as in the dance parlance) on a parade ground normally all over the world is always counter clockwise.

Importance
The dance sport is simple. Knowing a few basic figures is good enough for social dancing, so long as it's done well and with confidence. And confidence can come with honing the little that one knows, which means continuous practice of the same thing on and on, and yet to keep one's self alert for something new in it. As good as rediscovery of one's self continuously.

However we need a change as fast as possible. This is where the directions come in handy. Dancing the same set of step at different angles makes it look and feel different. So whatever little one knows, the illusion can be created to show and feel for one's self, of the vast repertoire of "step" that one has mastered.

Exercise 1
Line of dance or the LOD
Imagine a starting point and an end point separated by about 10 feet. Now when you join the two points with an imaginary straight line, it becomes the LOD or the line of dance. From the starting point one may dance straight to the end point or may curve from the left or right, or may move in a zigzag manner. Whatever the case, the imaginary straight line remains the LOD, and its direction if from the start point to the end point.

1. Facing LOD
Standing on the centre of the imaginary line, both the feet together and pointing straight ahead towards the end point and shoulders remain square to the LOD. (The imaginary line joining the two shoulders is perpendicular to the LOD, this means that the shoulders are square to the LOD). This position is 'Facing the LOD'; consequently one is backing against the LOD.

When in this position, in any part of the dance hall, the wall is always to the right and the centre always towards the left, with respect to the dancer/in relation to the dancer.

2. Now transfer full body weight on to the left foot, and turn the right foot with both the heels touching, at 45 degrees. Next transfer the weight on to the right foot and bring the left foot to the right foot, such that both the feet point in the same direction. The shoulders remain square to this direction. This position is called facing "diagonal to the Wall". Consequently it is also backing "diagonal to the centre against the LOD."

3. Now turn further to the right, similar to above. This position is facing the "wall", and consequently backing the "centre".

4. Turn further to the right. This position is facing "diagonal to the wall against the LOD", and consequently backing "diagonal to the centre".

5. Turn further to the right and you would be backing the LOD, or facing against the LOD.

6. Next turn to the right at 45 degrees. This position is facing "diagonal to the centre against the LOD", and consequently backing "diagonal to the wall".

7. Next turn will lead to the position when one is facing the "centre", and backing the "wall".

8. Further turn will lead to the position, facing "diagonal to the centre" and backing "diagonal to the wall against the LOD".

Note that all the directions given are with respect to the dancer, and not the dance place. If one is dancing in the open and facing the LOD, then the "wall" is still to the right of the person.

In brief

1 - facing the LOD & backing against the LOD 2 - facing diagonal to the wall & backing diagonal to the centre against the LOD 3 - facing the wall & backing the centre 4 - facing diagonal to the wall against the LOD & backing diagonal to the centre 5 - facing against the LOD & backing the LOD 6 - facing diagonal to the centre against the LOD & backing diagonal to the wall 7 - facing the centre & backing the wall 8 - facing diagonal to the centre & backing diagonal to the wall against the LOD.

Flow of the Dance

The direction of flow of a dance is always counter clockwise. This part is taken from the "marching" or the "war dance" as done by the soldiers. The "marching" always proceeds counter clockwise through the world. The reason is that most people are right handed and the "salute" is with the right hand. And the seniors witnessing the parade are stationed on the periphery of the ground. This necessitates the march to move counter clockwise. This same principle got adapted into the dance as well, for the smooth and easy flow.

See the picture given for the flow of the dance and the direction with respect to the dancer at various stages.