Having tried both, I can confirm that people seem more able to understand the concept of a square, for example, if you refer to what is behind them rather than what they can see in front of them.

My pet gripe is the tendency these days for callers to allow the dance to 'go across' the music. Okay, people can be slow to react the first time through, but a good caller can bring the dancers back in line with the music.

Years ago when I played in a ceilidh band we used to play once through a tune for the first time through the figure, and a second tune for the second time through. We'd then go back to the first tune and alternate.

The modern trend seems to be 'play a tune until you're fed up, then switch to another', which I don't think helps the dancers much. It irritates the hell out of me when I'm dancing...!!

;o)