‘The audience went bananas’: Lucha VaVoom creator excited for Calgary return

Miss Rita’s Lucha VaVoom returns to Calgary this weekend after a 14-year absence, and the show’s founder is thrilled to be here.

“We had such a blast last time, and the audience went bananas,” said Miss Rita, the creator of the unique blend of Mexican wrestling and burlesque.

“It was a highlight for us and, I think, Calgary.”

The performance is, once again, part of the High Performance Rodeo, and even those involved in it aren’t sure what to expect.

“There’s an element of spontaneity, so we’re kind of just ready for anything, and that’s really what I love about this show so much,” burlesque star Natasha Estrada told CTV News.

“There’s nothing else like it in the world, and no two Lucha VaVooms are the same experience.”

Wrestler Zokre, a veteran performer on the Lucha Libre circuit, credits the audience for energizing the performers.

“The crowd feeds into it (and) the wrestlers pick up on that energy,” Zokre said.

“It’s faster, it’s wilder, it’s chaos that’s somehow controlled.”

Miss Rita’s Lucha VaVoom is Saturday, Jan. 24, at the WinSport Event Centre.