What’s Halloween without a little Sexo y Violencia?

All Hallows Eve, or Hallowe’en as it came to be known, marks the beginning of the Christian holiday All Saints Day. But what they don’t tell you in grade school is that the celebration is rooted in the Pagan tradition of honoring the dead. The ancient Celts believed the barrier between this world and the spirit world grew thin at summer’s end, allowing souls (both good and bad) to walk amongst the living.

The modern interpretation of Halloween is characterized by a breakdown in the barrier between our innermost desires and demons, and external displays of decorum. There’s only one day of the year when it’s socially acceptable to dress like the lead in a tacky porno, a serial killer, a superhero, or a serial killing superhero pornstar (I think I just hit on next year’s costume). And there’s no better time to indulge in Lucha VaVOOM, the hit stage show that mixes Mexican wrestling with burlesque.

Mexican wrestling is a soap opera for men. It pits the good guys (tecnicos) against the bad guys (rudos) in a battle for honor. But instead of utilizing manipulation and gossip, competitors wage war on one another with man-handling and grunts. In between matches in this macho telenovela (Lucha), show creators Liz Fairbairn and Rita D’Albert have woven sultry strip tease (VaVOOM). D’Albert hand selects dancers based on athleticism and mastery of a unique skill. Watch the videos below to get a glimpse of how the show plays out.

ATENCION POR FAVOR! The bass in the Mayan Theatre is barely tolerable to the human ear, much less a video camera. So make sure to take your volume down before playing.

First, you get a little sex…

Acrobat Leigh Acosta shows off saucy feats of strength.

…Then a little fanfare…

Luchador Cassandro does a pre-battle twirl on the catwalk.

…Then you get hit with the Lucha…

Cassandro takes a beating at the hands of an unmerciful Rudo.

A shot to the head. Ouch!

…Then it’s back to the VaVOOM…

Model/performer Karice proves that Hula-hooping is not child’s play.

…You get the idea.

When Halloween ends, the portal between fantasy and reality closes. Rudos and tecnicos return to their corners. Acrobats descend from their poles. And ordinary folks put away their corsets, daggers, capes, and spandex. Luckily, Lucha VaVOOM fanatics and potential fans don’t have to wait until Halloween rolls around next year to partake in sexo y violencia. There are three other seasonally-themed shows, the next of which takes place February 10-11, 2010. Check out LuchaVaVOOM.com for more info.