Abstract: A high performance, low cost variable reluctance stepper motor has an integral structure with a ring and a plurality of aligned salient pole members. A plurality of teeth are located on the face of each pole member. Windings are disposed on alternate ones of the pole members and a high impedance means isolates the pole members from one another. A rotor with a plurality of teeth and a plurality of holes disposed thereon coacts with the pole members and is moved in a step fashion by the sequential energization of the windings. The flux generated by the energization of the windings is confined to a short path and coupling to the remainder of the structure is negligible. Recesses positioned symmetrically around the structure also serve to enhance flux splitting and reduce adjacent flux coupling.