- - - -

Motor Program     - phasing -
is similar to
Dance concept of  phrasing

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER:
A phrase must start at the beginning and run continuously through.

Basic 3-part structure of a phrase1:




Dancer's perceive a "Unit of Motion" as:   Stable - Mobile - Stable.2

    
1 Descriptions of phrasing 3-part structure are in many places (Dell, 1970, p. 93; North, 1972, p. 25; Preston-Dunlop, 1979; Blom & Chaplin, 1982, p.23; Hackney 1998, p. 239). Sometimes this 3­part phrase structure is considered as a simpler 2­part structure of exertion­recuperation (Humphrey, 1959, p. 67; Laban, 1959a; 1959b; 1960) or preparation-action (Laban, 1926, p. 29 [Anschwung-Ausschwung]; Bartenieff & Lewis, 1980, p. 73).

2 In psychological studies a "unit of motion" in dance is perceived to be a sequence which begins at a stable position (prepare), progresses through a more unstable position (action), and ends at another stable position (recovery) (Lasher, 1981).
Longstaff, J. S. (2003). Rhythmic timing in dance education.  Presentation at "New Connectivity" Conference, Laban Centre, London. 19 July.