Hi,
I understand and appreciate the need for following line of dance, but I wonder if at times there can be exceptions. Last night I was at a fairly large ballroom and for some reason, there were very few dancers. Late in the evening, there were only three couples on the floor and a beautiful slow waltz was played. Two of the couples were bunched up at the top end of this large rectangular ballroom. As I and my partner approached the back couple, it appeared to me they were going to be in the same position for some time, so rather than attempt to pass both of them, I did a series of natural turns back against the line of dance all the way back to the other end of the ballroom and then we danced back again up to the two couples (who were pretty much in the same position) and near to the outside edge. So I danced around them on the inside. as I mentioned, the floor was large, there were no impending collisions, not even close, but still, this morning, I am wondering if I violated any rules of dance when I first danced against LOD knowing there was no one else on the floor except the two couples in front of me, and later passing on the inside. Any comments including flaming would be appreciated as this morning, I am feeling guilty.

On a nearly empty floor, following LOD isn't as important as it is when the floor is crowded. Have you seen professional couples dance in shows and go against LOD for an entire side of the floor or something? No one's around so they can. Personally, I don't really like seeing that, but it's not actually a problem. Following LOD is meant to keep traffic flowing -- you don't travel head on into oncoming traffic. But if there's almost no one around, you can do it if you want to. As for passing on the inside, well, you're supposed to pass on the outside as that's where the faster moving traffic is supposed to be. But if couples are blocking the outside edge, you go ahead and pass on the inside. Again, I don't really see a problem with breaking the general guidelines when you need to and can do so without inconveniencing others.

Personally, I probably would have just cut across the floor, passing them on the inside, the first time. If they were blocking the short side of the room, which I think they were from your description, you don't have to go all the way to the edge of the room before taking the short side. If the outside edge is blocked, just cut across the short side a little sooner. People do this all the time at the socials I go to. Not everyone goes as far into the corner as they can. You can cross the short side a little more towards the center of the floor if you like.