‘Fashionistas’ Dance Troupe, Chi Chi Larue Rock AVN Awards

LAS VEGAS – Vegas is a city known for its live entertainment and the 25th Annual AVN Awards had no shortage of stage spectacle.

The evening’s performances were highlighted by Evil Angel head John Stagliano’s original performance piece based on his Vegas show, ‘Fashionistas.’ During the bombastic routine, several aerialists swung from long sashes, high above the stage, while fetish gear-clad dancers in outfits designed by Jose Luis Vinas, strutted and twirled through a blast of pyrotechnics.

“We were thrilled with how it went,” Evil Angel’s Karen Stagliano told AVN. “The dancers were so excited to be a part of the show again. This year, the male dance captain Jeffrey was the choreographer of the number with John, and the music was composed by the music composer for the Fashionistas Safado movies.

“In the dress-rehearsals, when Polina went up really high in the air on the silks, she was being pulled up too early by the stage crew. So we were kind of waiting to see how it would go, and it went perfectly.”

Stagliano’s performance was also marked by the edition of a serious theme — the government’s encroachment on civil liberties — as director Eli Cross warned onlookers of an ominous future from some giant television screens, during the performance.

“I found it interesting on articles about the show to read that a lot of people thought that Eli helped produce the number. While he and John have a lot of the same political views, John just thinks that Eli was perfect for that acting part, so we called him, and we're happy he agreed to be in it.”

Like Stagliano’s piece for last year’s AVN Awards, his original number for this year’s show was a surefire highlight.

The nostalgic clips which filled the spaces between awards were not without performances either, as award goers were treated to some rocking moments by performers Randy West and Dyanna Lauren from shows past.

A mohawked Chi Chi Larue provided the climax to the show with a performance of the traditional “Dance of the Starlets,” followed by a remix of sorts — “Porn Girls Rock” — with dozens of starlets dancing along on stage.