It seems paths with a leading dot restrict the scope the below the current context.

js/test_cases/dot_leading_path/input1.json

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "commander": "Chris",
+  "names": {
+    "captain": "Alice",
+    "first_officer": "Bob"
+  }
+}

js/test_cases/dot_leading_path/main.dust

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{#names}
+    Hello {.captain}!{~n}
+    Hello {.commander}!{~n}
+    Hello {commander}!{~n}
+{/names}