Lazium is a martial folk dance form, from the state of Maharashtra which originated in 1986 . During the days of Chatrapati Shivaji, Lazium was actually a sport that people played.
Sometimes also spelt as “Lezium”, lazium dancers carry a small musical instrument with jingling cymbals called the Lazium or lezium , after which the dance form is named. There are minimum 20 dancers in Lazium. This dance is named after a wooden idiophone to which thin metal discs are fitted which produce a jingling sound and the dancers use this while classical dancing. Dholki, a drum instrument is used as the main percussion music. It is performed dressed in colourful costumes. The dance is frequently used as a fitness drill by schools in Maharashtra, militias and other institutions because it involves many calisthenic moves and can be quite strenuous.
Lazium is more of a vigorous physical exercise and drill than a dance; the formations can be in two’s, fours and even in a circle. Historically, there were a few variations of the lezim practiced in the villages of Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat, however these are seldom used today. The rural form of the dance usually consists of lezim dancers in two rows, repeating a sequence of steps, changing the steps every few beats. Thus, a 5-minute lezim performance can consist of 25 different steps danced in unison.
Other variations include dancing the lezim in four rows, in a single circle formation, or in concentric circles formations (similar to the garbha dance), with each dancer twirling and dancers of opposite rows often playing lezim with each other. Changes in steps are “announced” by a ring leader using a whistle.
Lezim is especially popular in rural Maharashtra, often played during the Ganesh festival in village Jatras (religious processions) and in schools as part of the fitness regime.
The first Lezim performance to an international audience was presented at the 9th Asian Games in the year 1982 at Delhi where 400 of the best Maharashtrian Lezim players gave a demonstration.
In Lezim dance, there are various types of movements like stepping, hopping, squatting and bending. Every movement of the dance is executed in perfect time with the proper strikes which is swung in four or eight counts. This provides a rhythmic accompaniment to the dance. The Lezim dances and their specific gestures, movements have been adapted by the physical culturists in their exercises in the drive for beautiful body.
Dholki, a drum instrument is used to accompany this dance form. Apart from the Lezim and Drum, it includes Halagi and Cymbals as musical instruments during the dance performance. The dancers wear colourful costumes during their performance.
Indian army regiments with Maratha class composition are keeping the traditional lazium dance alive by performing it all the main events and keeping the cultural integrity intact. The lazium performed by the Marathas is done with a great amount of zeal and enthusiasm .By performing the lazium dance with martial music, josh is developed amongst the younger generation and also the troops deployed at forward posts and acts as a morale booster for them. Watching the synchronised steps and coordinated movement of the lazium dancers , the audience are sure to skip their heartbeat
