The whip is the signature 8-count pattern of West Coast Swing and the gateway to an enormous family of variations.
The shape
- 1–2: follower travels forward down the slot
- 3&4: leader steps across the slot and catches the follower's momentum in closed-ish position, redirecting them ("the coil")
- 5–6: follower travels back down the slot the way they came, leader posts
- 7&8: anchor
The follower's path is sometimes described as a "down-and-back" on a single track: the whip sends them past the leader, turns them around at the end of the slot, and brings them home.
What it teaches
Whips are where stretch becomes unavoidable: the redirection on 3&4 and the leverage on 5–6 only feel good when both partners maintain elastic connection through their bodies. Rushing count 4 is the classic whip mistake — most teachers drill "wait for the stretch."
Naming
Some older curricula count the whip's second half differently or teach a "coaster" ending; the 8-count structure above is the one most commonly taught today.
Video examples (4)
Full tutorial covering all four basics — this move among them.
How to Dance the West Coast Swing Basic Steps | Sugar Push, Side Pass, Whip
Dedicated basic whip tutorial.
West Coast Swing Basic Whip
Championship classic routine — whip variations throughout; spot as many as you can.
West Coast Swing - Ben Morris & Cameo McHenry - The US Open Swing Dance Championships Classic 1st
Championship classic routine built on whip-family patterns.
2013 Classic Champions - Jordan & Tatiana - US Open Swing Dance Championships
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Discussion
Debate naming, technique, and history here — keep the page itself descriptive.
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