Maglalatik
Encyclopedia
The Maglalatik is an indigenous dance from the Philippines
in which coconut shell halves that are secured onto the dancers' hands and on vests upon which are hung four or six more coconut shell halves. The dancers - all male - perform the dance by hitting one coconut shell with the other - sometimes the ones on the hands, sometimes, the ones on the body, and sometimes the shells worn by another performer, all in time to a fast drumbeat. Like many native Filipino dances, it is intended to impress the viewer with the great skill of the dancer, and in some Filipino Martial Arts
(FMA) circles, it has been noted that the manlalatik "consists of a trapping and boxing method hidden in a dance."
The name of the dance comes from the Filipino word "Latik
", which means "fried coconut milk curd", a coconut product that is used in Filipino cooking, particularly in snacks.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in which coconut shell halves that are secured onto the dancers' hands and on vests upon which are hung four or six more coconut shell halves. The dancers - all male - perform the dance by hitting one coconut shell with the other - sometimes the ones on the hands, sometimes, the ones on the body, and sometimes the shells worn by another performer, all in time to a fast drumbeat. Like many native Filipino dances, it is intended to impress the viewer with the great skill of the dancer, and in some Filipino Martial Arts
Filipino martial arts
Filipino Martial Arts refers to ancient and newer fighting methods devised in the Philippines, the most popular of which are known as Arnis/Eskrima/Kali. The intrinsic need for self-preservation was the genesis of these systems. Throughout the ages, invaders and evolving local conflict imposed new...
(FMA) circles, it has been noted that the manlalatik "consists of a trapping and boxing method hidden in a dance."
The name of the dance comes from the Filipino word "Latik
Latik
Latík refers to two different ingredients in Philippine cuisine. In the north it refers to solid coconut curds, the byproducts of coconut oil production, used as garnishing for a variety of desserts...
", which means "fried coconut milk curd", a coconut product that is used in Filipino cooking, particularly in snacks.