Sappho SLC: Enter the Sapphic Sphere With Noche de Lucha

Sappho SLC is Utah’s first sapphic burlesque production focused on sapphics experiencing and learning more about the art of burlesque, with emphasis on the need for more BIPOC performers in Utah. “I want to create a home in Utah for sapphics where it doesn’t feel like we’re in Utah,” mother of its creation and Venezuela native Luna Sol says. “We are unapologetically centering BIPOC individuals, voices and experiences, but also [creating] an acceptable space where people can come and enjoy events.”

“We are unapologetically centering BIPOC individuals, voices and experiences, but also [creating] an acceptable space where people can come and enjoy events.”

Sol had a dream for Utah’s BIPOC and queer communities alike to be able to feel seen and heard in safe spaces of their own. In sapphic burlesque, these queer performers focus on self-love while emphasizing the importance and inclusivity of bodies of all shapes and sizes to be the center of attention and to unapologetically take up space. Burlesque is performative, but also political, challenging norms centered around sexuality, gender and the patriarchy while reclaiming ownership of one’s body image.

“We focus a lot on daytime events, and then there is Sappho After Dark, where we decide to take a leap and make things naughtier, taking chances, taking challenges,” Sol says. Sol describes how Sappho After Dark takes hetero spaces, themes and concepts and makes them sapphic. A good example of this was their previous Magic Masc event, a sapphic parody of Magic Mike.

Sappho After Dark held one of its first sapphic wrestling events in mid-March called Noche De Lucha at Metro Music Hall, with the help of The Lucha Project, an established organization that introduces DIY wrestling into spaces where typical wrestling wouldn’t happen. Miss Paradise, a wrestler who has been in the wrestling scene for almost 14 years, helped with the training ahead of the event.

“The ring isn’t as forgiving as some people think it is, so we just wanted to make sure they were familiar in that space and taking care of their bodies”

“They [luchadores] came in about once a week for two months, and they did little workshops where we taught them how to be safe in the ring; the ring isn’t as forgiving as some people think it is, so we just wanted to make sure they were familiar in that space and taking care of their bodies,” Paradise says. The night was full of chants, community and queerness as eight sapphic luchadores competed for prizes such as the golden strap and silver scissors. There were also go-go dancers, BIPOC vendors, DJs and, of course, it isn’t Sappho SLC without a burlesque performance.

“Cultural appreciation over cultural appropriation; we wanted them to feel confident over choosing their characters and exploring them”

Rosa Rica, the co-host of the night, had led the matches with her charismatic wit and resonant presence. Rica helped the luchadores dive more into themselves to choose their fighters and learn about the history of luchalibre. “Cultural appreciation over cultural appropriation; we wanted them to feel confident over choosing their characters and exploring them,” Rica says.

Afterwards, the luchadores’ personalities came to light with names like La Papussy Peligrosa, Dolores Muerta, Poundcake, Shortcake the Clown, Titanium T Girl and Transmutation X. “It was beautiful to see people stay ‘til the very end of the finale. I was crying for the second half of the event because my body was releasing everything. I lost sleep because it took a lot of work to do this. We have to navigate so much as an event producer,” Sol says.

Sol had given her blood, sweat and tears and had even injured her ankle just before the event began. In the end, it was all worth it as the entire event had completely sold out, with people still in line trying to get through the door and a waitlist of over 60 people.

Burlesque is good for the soul; not only does it heal, but it also brings communities of queer and marginalized folk to take pride in themselves. Thank you, Sappho SLC for your fervor in keeping our sapphic communities united through education and body positivity. Follow @sapphoslc to keep up with future events and to stay up to date with their beloved performers.

Read about other local burlesque performers:
Bold & Beautiful: Baby Gorgeous
Bold & Beautiful: Violet Ends

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