Whips

Whips #

Start in an Open position. On 1 you step back while performing a small J-hook prep with the left arm. A common mistake is not to step back at 6 o’clock or to forget the prep. On 2 you face 3 o’clock and catch the follower by the armpit. To be exact, your right hand should be under the follower’s right armpit such that there is no gap between the armpit and your hand. In other word, your right hand palm should be pressed against the teres major, while your fingers wrap around the lattisimus dorsi, and your thumb is pressed against the top of the axilla, meaning the intersection between the teres major and the triceps brachii long head. On 3& the right arm extends to where it is almost straight, which allows the follower to step forward fully. If your right elbow is flexed on the 3&, then it is as if you were telling the follower to move forward even the she should be moving backwards! On 4 you step into the slot such that you face 6 o’clock and the follower’s right foot is positioned directly between your feet. On 5 you step in the 12 o’clock direction while turning your body to face at 9 o’clock such that your right arm is not straight any more. Instead, your right elbow should be bent at a 90 degree angle such that you are face-to-face with the follower. A common mistake is not to step towards 12 o’clock on 5, which is necessary to tell the follower to move forwards. Another common mistake is to keep the right arm locked instead of bent at 90 degrees, causing the follower to move through the slot in a rounded path as opposed to a straight line going directly from 6 o’clock to 12 o’clock. On 6 you release the right hand while you turn your body to face 12 o’clock. You post on 6, meaning that you stop moving forward to tell the follower the pattern is over. On 7&8 you do an anchor step. You should end in an [open] position.

Behind the back whip into shadow right shoulder catch #

Damon calls it a pikaboo whip.

This pattern is the same as a [behind-the-back whip] up to but not including 4. On 4, grab the followers left hand with your left hand and pull your left elbow backwards towards 3:00. This will cause the follower to rotate 0.75 turns clockwise such that you will end up in a shadow position facing 9:00 on 5. Make sure to place your right hand preemptively at her shoulder level so that you will be able to catch the follower right shoulder at the end of 5 and stop her motion so that she will end up in a shadow position. On 5, while still facing 9:00 with your body and feet, you will step slightly backwards and down the slot with your right foot towards 1:00 to create just enough space for crossing the left leg. On 6 step towards 12:00 while crossing on front of the right leg. On 6, as you move down the slot, move the follower’s left hand over her head onto her right shoulder. Make sure there hand goes over her head in an upside-down U shape. On 6, use your right hand, which should be on the follower’s shoulder, to hold her or slightly press her back towards 6:00, otherwise she may think that she is supposed to move down the slot with you. On 7&8 slide your right hand down the follower’s right arm while performing a triple step while moving towards 12:00. You should end in a [handshake] position and be facing 9:00 with your body and toes.

Note: The count for the follower will be different on 5. They will do 5& instead of just 5 because doing the rotation requires a triple step.

Next pattern suggestion:

• [right-side outside turn]

Basket whip #

Steps 1 thru 4 are same as a right-side pass, but the handwork is different. For handwork, make an L, such that the left arm points up and the right hand points to left elbow. It is easier to start this pattern from a [parallel] handhold.

Basket whip with an outside turn #

It looks like a basket whip with a tuck turn exit. It is the same as a [basket whip] up to step 4. On step 5 raise the left hand (like in a tuck turn) and release the right hand, turning the follower from steps 6 thru 8.

Basket whip with an spinning anchor #

It looks like a basket whip with an accelerated tuck turn exit. It is the same as a [basket whip] up to step 4. On step 5 raise the left hand on and release the right hand, turning the follower from step 6 thru 8 with plenty of energy so she can do a double spin. Make sure to draw a halo around her head twice.

Basket whip with arm escape #

Start from an [open] or [parallel] position. Everything is the same as a [basket whip] up to 4. Don’t let your right hand go of the follower’s left hand for the entire pattern. On 5 let go of your left hand. You should be standing perpendicular to the follower, looking at 9 o’clock while she looks at 6 o’clock. Your right arm should be extended across the followers back, with your hand pressed directly under the follower’s armpit-to-shoulder-blade fleshy part. Your right hand should rotate 45 degrees in a counter-clockwise, pronating motion around the follower’s right shoulder-blade-armpit section. In other words, your hand must not be at her waist level or her neck level. This rotation will encourage the follower to duck slightly. If the follower does not know to duck, release the right hand and gracefully toss it from 9 o’clock to 12 o’clock before putting it by your waist. She should have escaped by 6. You may choose to skip the footwork after you reach 5. On 7&8 you are still perpendicular to the follower, looking at 9 o’clock. The follower should move toward 12 o’clock while facing 6 o’clock the entire time and then anchor. You should end in an [goofy], perpendicular handshake.

Car-wash whip #

It requires a [goofy] hold or a [parallel] hold. Be in a [goofy] hold by step 4. Same as whip up to step 4, on 5 don’t do a hook step, do a cross step forward. Then turn counter-clockwise on 6 and do an anchor step 7&8. I think in step 5 you switch hands (from left to right) and bring your right hand to your lower back, signaling her to go back. On step 5 you can give a strong indication for the follower to turn clockwise by putting her left hand on your right hip. Her left hand will collide with your right hip as she steps backwards and your hip will push her arm clockwise.

Contemporary Hustle whip #

A pattern that Zach taught me.

The contemporary Hustle whip is different from the regular Hustle whip because you do not “open the newspaper” on the 1-and-2 or 5-and-6. If the follower is not ready, opening the newspaper can hurt the follower (that is what Amber told me). The contemporary Hustle whip is also different because it does not require a parallel handhold at the start.

It starts from an [open] position and all the footwork is the same as in a regular whip, but the handwork is different. Handwork 1 and 2 is the same as a whip for the left hand because it is [J-hook], but the right hand is offered at waist level with the palm up on 1. On 2, your body and your right hand should be pointing at 3 o’clock. By 2, you should have the follower’s left hand on your right hand. On 5 move your right hand in front of your right hip. On 6 move your left hand so it is parallel with the right hand. Anchor on the 7&8. You should end in a [parallel] position.

Decapitate whip #

A variation of a [handshake reverse whip]. It requires a [handshake] hold. Do a [J-hook], but on step 3 don’t release her right hand, go over her head. On step 4, hold or “cup” her left triceps with your left hand. Use your right hand to turn her back into the right position.

Hustle whip #

The footwork is the same as in a whip. For the handwork, a [parallel] handhold is necessary. Open the arms on 1,2 and close them by 3&. Open the hands on 4,5, and close them by 6. Post on 6 for the anchor step.

You may do a [car-wash whip] exit.

Hustle whip inside pass turn into open position #

The footwork is the same as a [hustle whip], and the handwork is the same up to step 4. On step 4, apply tension to lead the follower forwards while raising your left hand. On 5, raise your left hand as though you were looking at your clock. Your left hand should be aligned to her nose. On 6, as she is passing by, draw an counter-clockwise halo around her head and release your right-hand grip. Then do an anchor position in [open] position.

Hustle whip inside pass turn into parallel position #

Same as a [hustle whip inside pass turn into open position] up to step 6. On step 6, immediately when the follower’s back becomes visible, slide your fingers across her back, shoulder, and arm into a [parallel] hold.

Hustle whip outside pivot turn #

The footwork is the same as a [hustle whip], and the handwork is the same up to step 4. On step 4, apply tension to lead the follower forwards while raising your left hand. On 5, raise your left hand as though you were asking a question. On 5, lower your right hand so the follower is able to turn clockwise. Your left hand should be at her right-ear level and at shoulder-width. On 6, as she is passing by, draw a clockwise halo over her head without releasing your right-hand grip. This should put you into a [left hammerlock] position with both hands in a [weird] position, with the right hand against the follower’s right hip.

Hustle whip leader outside pivot turn into handshake position #

A pattern that Howard Rodriguez taught me.

The footwork and handwork are the same as a regular [hustle whip] up to step 4. On 5 and 6 go into a [right shoulder] position by brining your left hand to your right shoulder while still holding onto her right hand and while doing 0.5 turns clockwise (steps 2 and 3 in a salsa right turn). On 5 you should face 9 o’clock. On 6 you should face 3 o’clock. On 7&8 do another 0.5 turns (steps 2 and 3 and another 2 in a salsa right turn) as her right hand slides down your right shoulder and hand into a [handshake] position looking at 9 o’clock.

A good pattern to do after this one is a [trusty left-side-pass].

Hustle whip into left hammerlock walk-around #

The walk-around finishes on steps 10, then one must do a very good of indicating the end of the rotation and undoing the hammer-lock on the 4 steps, the final 2 of which are an anchor step

This hammer lock position is achieved by bringing your left hand up as if asking a question and tracing a circle over the follower’s head that goes from the back of the follower’s head to your chest while the right goes directly down and close to the follower’s waist to avoid preventing the follower’s rotation

Hustle whip outside turn #

The outside turn requires a [goofy] handhold. On 5 release your left hand and use your right hand to lead a 1.5 outside turn into an anchor step. You should end in a [goofy] position.

Next pattern suggestion:

• [free spin] (you may be able to skip the anchor step and go directly onto a free spin)

Right-side pass reverse whip #

From an [open] hold, for steps 1 thru 4, do a right-side pass into [closed] position. You must not let the follower step back on step 4. You have to pull her so she steps forward, otherwise she will already be anchored on her right foot. In other words, on step 4, she must be stepping forward with her right foot (in between your feet). If she is stepping backward, you are too late (put fingers in between shoulder blades as she passes). For steps 5 thru 8, continue the whip as normal.

Handshake reverse whip #

Start in a [handshake] hold. Lead an [L-hook] between the 1 and 2. The follower should be facing 12 o’clock by the end of 2. On 3& take your sweet time making sure you get into a proper [starter] position and placing your right wrist under the follower’s armpit such that there is no gap. On 4 step across the slot and propel the follower forward across the slot, not in an orbiting motion. Step 5 is down the slot towards 12 o’clock, step 6 is across the slot towards 9 o’clock, not diagonally, and steps 7&8 are an anchor step. You should end in a [open] position.

Left shoulder-lock reverse whip #

Start in a [left shoulder-lock] position. Steps 1 and 2 are backwards diagonally such that you should face 3 o’clock by the end of step 2. On step 3& you enter [starter] position, and on steps 4 through 8 you lead a regular whip. You should end in [open] position.

For the handwork, pull the follower toward 6 o’clock on 1 using your left arm. Then invert the curvature of your right wrist on the follower’s shoulder between 1 and 2 to indicate a 0.5 counter-clockwise turn to the follower. The follower should be facing 12 o’clock by the end of 2. Your right hand should not lose contact throughout the turn because the follower does not know how much to turn. Between 1.5 and the end of 2 you will nee to turn your hand while maintaining contact. Your right hand fingers will basically from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock counter-clockwise before your palm can turn and be placed on the follower’s left shoulder.

Pass-through whip #

It is similar to a [car-wash whip]. It requires a [goofy] handhold. In steps 1 and 2 raise your right hand over her head, in steps 3 and 4 bring your right hand to your lower back as to create tension and cause the follower to do a clockwise turn. If you place your right hand on your right hip as opposed to your lower back, then the follower will have no option but to rotate clockwise because your hip will push against her hand and prevent her from turning counter-clockwise. Step 4 is a regular whip step, but 5 isn’t. Step 5 does not have any rotation. Simply place your right foot next to your left foot. Step 6 requires your left foot to step back so you go into the slot. In steps 7&8 you are also stepping backward into the slot and offering your hand. At the end you should be in [open] position.

Behind-the-back whip #

Use it from an [open] position. On step 1 step back and to the left such that left foot points at 9:00 counter-clockwise. On step 2, close your feet so your whole body points at 9:00. When doing the hand switch on 2, rotate your right hand into a [weird] position and place her right palm on your left wrist, which will facility her hand to slide down into a behind-the-back handshake position. On step 3, offer your left hand at either waist level pointing at 8 o’clock relative to your body with your palm pointing up or at neck level pointing at 2 o’clock relative to your body. On 3&4 step backwards towards 3:00 while facing 9:00. Steps 5, 6, 7&8 are normal, as in, 5 is forward at 12 o’clock and 6 is to the left at 9 o’clock. You should end in a [scout] position. Watch video.

Apache whip #

Not to be confused with the [behind-the-back whip].

Start in an [open] position. Same on 1 and 2, but on 3 and 4 you put the follower’s right hand behind her lower back and grab her right hand with your right hand into a [weird handshake]. Watch video.

Paraphrased advice from Damon D’Amico:

When performing an Apache whip, in addition to always keeping the right hand on the follower’s shoulder, the hand switch happens on 5, not 4. If you attempt the hand switch on 4, you are undermining the follower. On 5, do not take your right hand off the follower’s back to perform the hand switch because this is confusing for the follower. On 5, for the hand switch, while the right hand is pressed against the follower’s left shoulder blade and the right wrist is under the armpit with no gap, all you have to do is change the direction of your right hand from 9 o’clock to 6 o’clock while lifting your right-hand fingers, assuming the imaginary clock is mounted on the follower’s back. Then bring the follower’s right hand under those fingers using your left hand.

Continuous whip #

Do a regular whip, then on 3& you should be in a [starter] position with your left foot free to step across on 4. On 4 step across with your foot pointing at 9 o’clock, not 12 o’clock, so on 5 you can use your right foot to propel yourself on a 0.5 clockwise turn so your body, face, and feet face 3 o’clock. It is very important to perform steps 4 and 5 as a single, fluid motion. Then keep stepping across, as if repeating steps 4 and 5, alternating between facing 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock. Make sure that you are not making an orbiting motion. You should be stepping across the slot, and the follower should be moving up and down the slot, kind of like the + sign, as opposed to orbiting around the slot, like a circle O. As you are stepping across the slot, make sure there is tension on the 4 such that the tension directs the follower to move across the slot, not around the slot. Also, on 4 both will be very closed together whereas on 5 there should be a little bit of a stretch as the tension builds up before the next 4 and 5. To finish the pattern, stop creating tension on step 5 while the follower is in closed position, and slowly release the follower’s left shoulder blade into [open] position as you step across the slot on 6 so your body and feet can point either 12 o’clock or 6 o’clock depending on how many turns you did. Then 7&8 are a regular anchor step. You should end in an [open] position.

Note that the repetition ends on the odd beat 5 because the settling happens on the even beat 6.

One of the main uses of the continuous whip is to add 2-beat increments so that you are more easily able to predict or approach the 8th beat in the song.

Continuous whip into starter position #

Start in an [open] position. Then go into a [continuous whip] after 3& or the first 5. Then settle on 6 to go into a [starter] position.

The perpendicular angle is very important when stepping across on 4. Keep repeating 4 and 5 in one quick, smooth motion, like the 4 and 5 are one motion, not two steps, making sure to maintain this perpendicular shape at the end of each rotation on 5, and making sure the follower moves up and down the slot, not in a circular or orbiting fashion. On the last repeat of the 4 and 5, do not build tension on the 5, become gooey on 6 so the follower can settle, and should end in [starter] position on 6.

Next pattern suggestion:

• Do a [left-side starter inside chain turn into open position] because most followers should be able to follow, and there is something about the angle that makes it feel good.
• [left-side starter back-lead free-spin], which is an intermediate exit.
• [left-side outside pass]
• [left-side starter outside turn into a weird handshake position] and a [handshake reverse whip]

Continuous basket whip into starter position #

Do a basket whip, then on 4 and 5 lead a [continuous whip], an settle in a [starter] position on 6.

Whip with two outside turns into over-rotated open position #

Start in a [open] position. The footwork and handwork are exactly the same as a [whip with an outside turn] up to an including step 6. A common error is to begin leading the outside turn before 6 rather than at the end of 6. Perform a whip with two outside turns. On 7 step forward towards 12 o’clock such that your right foot points at 3 o’clock while leading one full outside pivot turn with the left hand, on 8 lead another outside pivot turn while you turn to face 3 o’clock. You should end in an over-rotated [open] position because you face 3 o’clock as opposed to 12 o’clock and because the follower face 9 o’clock instead of 6 o’clock.

Next pattern suggestions:

• [shadow position into sweetheart into scout handhold] Note that steps 7, 8, and 1 should be done in one fluid motion to maintain angular momentum.

Whip ride #

A leader cannot lead a ride, but he can strongly coax the follower onto a ride. In a ride, the follower stands on one leg as the lead walks around her while maintaining a closed position, causing her to rotate in place. Maintaining balance is very difficult for the follower. Both the lead and the follower must know what they are doing.

By not being able to lead a ride, I mean to say that there is nothing that the lead can do to prevent the follower from simply opting to walk in a rotating fashion as opposed to standing on one leg.

The handwork and footwork is the same as in a regular whip up to but not including 3&. In a regular whip, 3& are done in place on the left side of the slot while facing 3 o’clock. When doing a ride, the & step in the 3& is progressive toward 3 o’clock because step 4 must be on the right side of the slot, with your body pointing somewhere between 3:00 and 4:30 o’clock, signaling the follower that we are about to go into a ride. Note that the leader must grab the right hand with this left hand for improved balance, and the right hand must be placed on the follower’s teres major, at the top of the armpit, and on the shoulder blade. The right-hand elbow should be locked straight. Every step after the 4 must be a half-step. In other words, 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8, as opposed to 4 5 6 7 8. Short, shuffling, smooth, fast steps are better for balance than single 1-beat steps. Make sure not the push or pull the follower off-balance. She is merely using your right arm as a rest while you both rotate. You are providing angular momentum with your right arm, but not pushing or pulling, just holding.