Continuous Whip History › Revision 3

Revision 3

archivist · Jul 13, 2026, 10:45 PM · Cross-link related moves

Changes from revision 2

A whip whose middle is extended by repeating the coil: instead of releasing the follower down the slot on 5–6, the leader keeps the follower rotating around the post for an extra 2 (or more) counts before the exit.
+A [[Whip|whip]] whose middle is extended by repeating the coil: instead of releasing the follower down the slot on 5–6, the leader keeps the follower rotating around the post for an extra 2 (or more) counts before the exit.
 
Counted as a 10- or 12-count figure depending on how many extensions are danced. Continuous whips are a workhorse of musicality dancing — the extra counts let you sit inside a musical phrase and exit exactly on the hit. They demand genuinely good posts from the leader and patient, centered rotation from the follower.
 
## Common notes
 
- The whole trick lives on count 4: Brian B teaches it as the leader holding the follower's weight and *pivoting them on that foot* while sneaking his own foot across into a spot where he can catch the weight — put the foot in the wrong place and the catch (and the timing) falls apart.[^1]
- The matching follower skill is a clean pivot on the ball of one foot with the weight staying forward over it — if the follower isn't comfortable pivoting, the extension can't be led smoothly.[^2]
- On length: around 12 counts is a good maximum — "if you extend it longer than that you probably forgot how to come out of it."[^3]
 
[^1]: Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["The Extended Whip for WCS!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqqWs68b1LE&t=39s) at 0:39–3:30.
[^2]: Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["The Extended Whip for WCS!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqqWs68b1LE&t=88s) at 1:28.
[^3]: Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["The Extended Whip for WCS!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqqWs68b1LE&t=34s) at 0:34.
Page as of this revision

Continuous Whip

advanced

also known as: Double Whip · Whip with Extension · Extended Whip

A whip whose middle is extended by repeating the coil: instead of releasing the follower down the slot on 5–6, the leader keeps the follower rotating around the post for an extra 2 (or more) counts before the exit.

Counted as a 10- or 12-count figure depending on how many extensions are danced. Continuous whips are a workhorse of musicality dancing — the extra counts let you sit inside a musical phrase and exit exactly on the hit. They demand genuinely good posts from the leader and patient, centered rotation from the follower.

Common notes

  • The whole trick lives on count 4: Brian B teaches it as the leader holding the follower's weight and pivoting them on that foot while sneaking his own foot across into a spot where he can catch the weight — put the foot in the wrong place and the catch (and the timing) falls apart.1
  • The matching follower skill is a clean pivot on the ball of one foot with the weight staying forward over it — if the follower isn't comfortable pivoting, the extension can't be led smoothly.2
  • On length: around 12 counts is a good maximum — "if you extend it longer than that you probably forgot how to come out of it."3

Footnotes

  1. Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "The Extended Whip for WCS!" at 0:39–3:30.

  2. Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "The Extended Whip for WCS!" at 1:28.

  3. Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "The Extended Whip for WCS!" at 0:34.