Riding the phrase

Imagine that the movement phrases exist in the space, like invisible radiowaves, traces... and we merge in and out of them. We have physically moved the air and left traces of our bodies as we dance so in a sense we have carved them into the three-dimensional space. This imaginative idea helps us to visualize the pattern of each phrase—it's pathway, levels, intensity (a stronger movement might imprint more heavily like pressing more deeply with a pencil to make a darker mark)—it becomes a way to remember a phrase and move more confidently within it, supported by a framework outside yourself.

And it also brings attention to how we move together as a group in the studio...and how we support each other with our witnessing when we are not directly involved in dancing the phrase. Being able to enter the phrase at any point is a good survival strategy, a way to continue rather than stop if we forget a section. This keeps the flow and energy moving for the group and cultivates positivity (to feel confident in your dancing by moving on and not worrying about missing a detail here or there).
Moving around the phrase as you watch others provides energy for those dancing, through eye contact and proximity, and being able to exchange smoothly from observer to dancer (passing the baton) cultivates your timing and spatial skills.

It can also be an engaging choreographic idea. Have a look at this section of
"Physical Business" (1994)
choreographed by Helen Herbertson for the Danceworks company and see this idea of moving in and out of a movement sequence (also see myself and Shaun dancing).