Rita D’Albert is the co-creator of Lucha VaVoom, the seven-year-old fusion of Lucha Libre wrestling, burlesque and performance art that plays four times a year in the Los Angeles area to enthusiastic crowds. Rita is photographed at her downtown loft. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Gasparin, a ring announcer from Mexico, takes to the mike to introduce the first match. He speaks only in Spanish and lends authenticity to the Lucha Libre that is on offer. The Mexican brand of freestyle wrestling is a blend of art and sport that dates to the 1930s. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Lux La Croix performs to “Flash Dance” during a Lucha VaVoom show at the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Wrestler Dirty Sanchez is led into the ring for his match. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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El Presidente, left, and Dirty Sanchez grab El Bombero to slam him to the mat. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
El Presidente, top, plays to the crowd before finishing off El Bombero, who finds himself in a vulnerable spot. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
There is more than wrestling to Lucha VaVoom, there’s burlesque, as evidenced by Space Cowgirl dancer Lucky Fur. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
In the night’s featured match, Mini Cassandro jumps on the back of Ultimo Dragoncito. Be careful not to call them midgets, they are “mini” wrestlers. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Karis’ dance with a brass hoop closes the Lucha VaVoom show. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Maldad and Shamu Jr. were thrown out of the ring during their match with Los Crazy Chickens. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Los Crazy Chickens go back to back against Dr. Maldad, left, and Shamu Jr. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
The Los Crazy Chickens add to the festival atmosphere. The shows are attracting audiences whose theatrical tastes are as likely to have been shaped by B-movies, comic books and music videos as by “Hello, Dolly!” or the collected works of Arthur Miller. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Joel Becerra and Karine Nava cheer on Los Crazy Chickens. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Rev. Brown is part of the show. He tries to shut down Lucha VaVoom because it contains burlesque acts. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Karis starts out in Egyptian garb before breaking into a dance with a hoop. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
