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Duck › History › Revision 2

Revision 2

current

bendichter · Oct 9, 2026, 4:20 PM · Shortened the description.

← Revision 1

Changes from revision 1

Tags: spins & turns, connection & technique → connection & technique, spins & turns

−A move where one partner — usually the follower — ducks briefly under the joined hands as the arm passes overhead, most often layered onto an [[Inside Roll|inside turn]] or a [[Whip|whip]].
+One partner, usually the follower, ducks briefly under the joined hands as the arm passes overhead. It is most often added to an [[Inside Roll|inside turn]] or a [[Whip|whip]].
 
## For followers
 
−- Read the speed of the lead through the connection: the leader may take the turn slow or syncopate it faster, and matching their pace is what keeps an elbow out of your face.[^1]
−- Duck **late and briefly**: most people get dizzy turning with their head down, so stay upright through the turn and only pop the head down and back up between counts 3 and 4, when you feel the leader's arm coming over.[^2]
−- Keep your free arm in a ready frame — a hanging arm gets trapped under the joined hands and the duck stops working.[^3]
−- On an open-whip head duck, expand and open the back on count 5 rather than collapsing the frame — that's what gives the leader room to build the window.[^4]
+Megan of West Coast Swing Online teaches matching the speed of the lead, since the leader may take the turn slowly or syncopate it.[^1] Duck late and briefly: stay upright through the turn and drop the head only between counts 3 and 4, when the leader's arm comes over, because most people get dizzy turning with the head down.[^2] Keep the free arm up in frame so it does not get trapped under the joined hands.[^3] On an open-whip head duck, Matt Davis and Desiree teach opening the back on count 5 to give the leader room.[^4]
 
## For leaders
 
−Brian B teaches ducks on patterns the follower already owns (inside turn from either hand, basic whip): once the follower is prepped and turning on her own, slide the joined hand down to her **elbow or armpit** — the elbow is "cooler and easier" because lifting it leaves more room — then travel the hand *out and around* her path with your elbow to the sky. A flat elbow or a cut-off path is how followers get hit in the back of the head.[^5]
+Brian B teaches ducks on patterns the follower already knows, such as an inside turn or a basic whip. Once the follower is turning, the leader slides the joined hand down to the follower's elbow or armpit, then moves the hand out and around the follower's path with the elbow pointing up. A flat elbow or a shortened path is how followers get hit in the back of the head.[^5]
 
[^1]: Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["West Coast Swing Ducks | What You Should Know About Ducking"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S16GYhXK47M&t=42s) at 0:42.
[^2]: Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["West Coast Swing Ducks | What You Should Know About Ducking"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S16GYhXK47M&t=106s) at 1:46–2:44.
[^3]: Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["How to dance a "DUCK" in West Coast Swing - 3 Different Ducks!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJv6HOzo93A&t=286s) at 4:46.
[^4]: Matt Davis & Desiree, Rising Tide Swing Dance Studio, ["Underarm Open Whip with a Head Duck! – WCS Guide #161"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uYSrYR2bs&t=149s) at 2:29.
[^5]: Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["How to dance a "DUCK" in West Coast Swing - 3 Different Ducks!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJv6HOzo93A&t=162s) at 2:42–3:47.
Page as of this revision

Duck

intermediate

also known as: Duck Under · Head Duck

One partner, usually the follower, ducks briefly under the joined hands as the arm passes overhead. It is most often added to an inside turn or a whip.

For followers

Megan of West Coast Swing Online teaches matching the speed of the lead, since the leader may take the turn slowly or syncopate it.1 Duck late and briefly: stay upright through the turn and drop the head only between counts 3 and 4, when the leader's arm comes over, because most people get dizzy turning with the head down.2 Keep the free arm up in frame so it does not get trapped under the joined hands.3 On an open-whip head duck, Matt Davis and Desiree teach opening the back on count 5 to give the leader room.4

For leaders

Brian B teaches ducks on patterns the follower already knows, such as an inside turn or a basic whip. Once the follower is turning, the leader slides the joined hand down to the follower's elbow or armpit, then moves the hand out and around the follower's path with the elbow pointing up. A flat elbow or a shortened path is how followers get hit in the back of the head.5

Footnotes

  1. Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "West Coast Swing Ducks | What You Should Know About Ducking" at 0:42. ↩

  2. Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "West Coast Swing Ducks | What You Should Know About Ducking" at 1:46–2:44. ↩

  3. Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "How to dance a "DUCK" in West Coast Swing - 3 Different Ducks!" at 4:46. ↩

  4. Matt Davis & Desiree, Rising Tide Swing Dance Studio, "Underarm Open Whip with a Head Duck! – WCS Guide #161" at 2:29. ↩

  5. Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "How to dance a "DUCK" in West Coast Swing - 3 Different Ducks!" at 2:42–3:47. ↩