Loca-motion

Fans cheer on Latin heartthrob as Ricky Martin takes to 'Dome

CALGARY - They were Livin' La Vida Local at the Saddledome last night as Ricky Martin-mania gripped Calgary.

Even as fans left the sweat-soaked concert, Ricky-fever was still running hot, with the Latin sex-symbol's high-energy show capturing the hearts of the sold-out crowd.

"It was a really good stage show -- very entertaining. Ricky's the best. I would really like to marry him," said Leanne Yelich, 22, who drove from Saskatoon to see Martin.

"He's very charismatic and he had this aura, this energy about him,"Yelich said.

Her friend agreed.

"I like the production," said Jennifer Tatomir, 23. "It's so big and excellent. And Ricky is fine. He's got a nice bon-bon."

In the minutes before the singer hit the stage, girls screamed in anticipation.

And when Martin entered the spotlight, and failed to keep his stuff moving as well as his crack troop of dancers, it couldn't shake the faith.

"He's pretty good," said Gwen McKevitt, 28, of Martin. "But he's not as good as his dancers ... But I still think it's awesome."

Even younger fans were impressed.

"I like it. The dancing was neat," said 10-year-old Lauren Chan. "It was pretty good," sister Elise Chan, 9, chipped in.

Other near-swooning fans said Martin was perfect in every way.

"What don't I like about Ricky? Of course, he's a talented musician. It's fun to watch him dance and he's hot," said Alana Gieck, 30, who has a screen-saver of Martin on her computer at work.

"I've been a fan of his since his Menudo days and then I followed him when he had long hair with General Hospital."

Andrea Schoenmetzler, 19, was also ready to shake her bon-bon with 20-year-old boyfriend Scott Phillips at the show.

"I'm a fan. I like the upbeat songs," said Schoenmetzler.

"And you like the way he looks -- admit it," chided Phillips.

"I do like the way he looks," conceded Schoenmetzler.

But Phillips said attending the concert earned him brownie points for later.

"By agreeing to come, she now has to come with me to wrestling," he said.