Ricky's Hips in Action

12/18/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

Ricky Martin opened his North American tour Wednesday night on the stage of the Miami Arena by dancing on top of a silver Mustang convertible. At one point in his show he encouraged the thousands of mesmerized fans in the audience to shake their hips, too, telling them that anyone can do it. "It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter where you come from," he announced to a mixed crowd in which women outnumbered men (though not by much). Introducing the song "I Am Made of You," Ricky, dressed in a black Armani shirt and leather pants, explained how he deals with the "energy and euphoria" of sudden stardom. "My medicine is a higher power," he said. He swivels on to Tampa on Friday and Atlanta on Sunday. His tour is set to wrap up in Cleveland on Dec. 6.