It is an interesting subject. If I can imagine one of my primitive forebears dancing around a camp fire on the night of a full moon. I would have them going anti-clock whether they faced inwards or out. It just seems natural to go in that direction.

It is definitely safer for spectators to have the sword on a gentleman's left hip, therefore inside the LOD. However, I can't say that it would be so safe for his dance partner. If he had to draw that sword while dancing in LOD with his partner, her head could be cut off!!!

Regardless of WHY we do it, I just wish more people actually knew TO do it. When we're hard-up for a place to dance on the weekend, sometimes we'll go to one of the country dances around here, where absolutely no one knows to travel counter-clockwise around the floor. It makes for great floorcraft practice though.

I would say at athletic sports there may be another reason to run cc: right handed people (so the majority) have a preferred LEFT supporting (stronger) leg and this causes a slight turn to the L (see CBM at dancing). So also in dancing a turn to the left is the easier one, but only because of the right-shifted hold (the sword thing ...) the turn to R evolved to the "Natural Turn."
But I also like the explanation that spectators outside see people moving from L to R.
By the way: I hate the terms "clockwise / counter clockwise" because I wear digital watches only. Why doesn't everybody say "to the right / to the left"? And where is the clock? (I know it's lying on the ground, but imagine someone put it on the ceiling, then clockwise would be counter clockwise ... !)

I think you are right with the anti clock and clockwise. Only a few weeks ago i met with the peculiar description. First i will add that some people are very exact in what they say. This was one of them. I was told to move my head more to the left, which I thought I did. No I was told you moved your face to the left which moved your head to the right. I want the head moved to the left slightly. I can see how in dancing how it is necessary to be precise. Take a foot position in Latin . Do we turn the toe to the left or the heel to the right. I believe Karina had some words on that one. Now turn your head to the left. Which way is your face going.

Consider this with the bias to righthandedness the obvious way to control the lady is with the right hand. To make this comfortable the lady must stand to the man's right. This leaves the man with a free leg on the left side which makes turning to the right easier and therefore more "natural". If one goes around the room clockwise dancing this figure the tendency is to vere to the centre of the room. The general rule of the ballroom is that you should not needlessly impede other dancers. If you dance this figure anti-clockwise turns to the right are towards the wall of the room and the tendency to move to the right takes you outward and leaves space in the centre for other dancers. No swords required and in any case at a function the sword and scabard would have been removed from the frog and left with your outdoor clothing.

Hasn't anybody else noticed that a Sun Dial moves against the clock. 3 2 1 is on the left and 11 10 9 on the right. The answer to your problem is probably right there.

Can someone please explain what LOD stands for?

LINE OF DANCE. Read about this term in the 'Learning Center' by clicking on the link, which is situated on the left side of this page.

Iluv2dance

Thankyou for your prompt answer and advice..