The rhinestones of the Rio carnival at the museum of stage costumes in Moulins

After fairy tales and the circus, this new exhibition is part of the CNCS's approach to "open up to live performance in all its forms, beyond opera and theater", explains Delphine Pinasa, director of the CNCS.

The Rio carnival, with its thousands of dancers and millions of spectators, "is the greatest spectacle in the world," she recalls.

The next edition of this great collective ritual is scheduled from February 25 to March 1, 2022.

The 120 costumes presented at the Moulins museum, in the Allier region, all come from Rio, on loan from samba schools, costume designers, sewing workshops or carnival riders.

The first rooms put the spotlight on the street parade, a great popular festival that precedes the traditional competition between samba schools.

Part of the 2019 haute couture collection, "La vie en rose", by Alexia Hentsch, a Swiss Brazilian designer very inspired by the exuberant outfits of the cariocas, makes the link between fashion and carnival.

Creations from the 2019 haute couture collection "La vie en rose" by Swiss-Brazilian designer Alexia Hentsch exhibited at the National Center for Stage Costume in Moulins, in Allier, December 2, 2021 Thierry ZOCCOLAN AFP

The other rooms magnify the sumptuous costumes of the samba schools who work tirelessly for months to make their dazzling costumes and monumental floats.

Often born in poor neighborhoods, these social and cultural structures compete each year in creativity to obtain the maximum number of points in the official competition.

"Carnavalesco"

A space is dedicated to the "carnavalesco", both director and designer of his school's parade, organized each year around a specific theme.

The other major figures of the parade, the flag bearer and the master of ceremonies from each school, are also highlighted, with their rhinestones and sequins, designed in harmony.

Each year, the theme chosen by the schools tells a story, often centered on the origins and identity of the Brazilian people, their regions and their customs.

Without forgetting the traditional sources of inspiration, the African heritage - with geometric patterns, large prints - and the Indian peoples - with the abundant use of feathers.

A Bahian-inspired carnival costume exhibited at the National Center for Stage Costume in Moulins, in Allier, December 2, 2021 Thierry ZOCCOLAN AFP

The exhibition also highlights French influences, with court dresses, elegant outfits trimmed with lace and embroidered with sequins, voluminous wigs.

"The materials used for the carnival costumes are very simple, plastic or natural elements, but the pieces are always very creative", emphasizes Ms. Pinasa.

Christophe Martin's scenography is deliberately refined: a single color per room, in order to highlight the rooms.

Screens show images of the carnival where dancers are seen wearing costumes on display.

A Rio Carnival flag bearer costume exhibited at the National Center for Stage Costume in Moulins, in Allier, December 2, 2021 Thierry ZOCCOLAN AFP

At the end of the route, the last room - called the sambodrome, named after the avenue lined with tiers where the parade takes place in Rio - immerses the visitor in the party: the costumes come alive at the foot of a gigantic structure representing a tank.

Former military barracks from the 18th century transformed into a museum in 2006, the CNCS keeps a collection of 10,000 dance and opera theater costumes, including that of the legendary dancer Rudolf Nureyev.

© 2021 AFP