Rio Carnival: it’s time for the popular festival at the “sambodrome”

Last day of carnival in Rio de Janeiro. For four nights, the samba schools paraded in the “sambodrome”, this legendary avenue designed by Oscar Niemeyer, which welcomes up to 70,000 people. A carnival where tourists, Brazilians, and

cariocas

(the inhabitants of Rio, Editor's note) of all social classes mix. But the carnival is mainly led by residents of the

favelas

and the poorest neighborhoods of the city.

Parade on February 12, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro. Monumental “allegorical” floats, thousands of dancers in sparkling costumes, rhythm sections to wake the dead, sophisticated light displays... it's carnival time! AFP - PABLO PORCIUNCULA

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With its hundreds of musicians, the drums of the samba schools always impress the audience of the gigantic “sambodrome”, writes our correspondent in Rio de Janeiro,

Sarah Cozzolino

. Vanesca is from São Paulo, and the show has nothing to envy of what she saw on television throughout her childhood: “

There I really feel at the heart of the samba school. I was very surprised by the allegorical floats which are… wow! Really huge!

»

Monumental floats, thousands of dancers in sparkling costumes, rhythm sections to wake the dead, sophisticated light shows: every year the schools try to outdo themselves in front of the public and the thousands of

Brazilians

glued to their televisions. These tanks can actually reach up to twenty meters in height. They are imagined and constructed throughout the year to tell the story of the theme chosen by the school. Themes often linked to popular culture and racial minorities. Arilton is part of the Grande Rio school: “

We must talk about these themes, because Brazil still has a debt due to the sadness of slavery

.”

60 to 70 minute parade for each school

The mythology of the Yanomami indigenous people and the story of João Cândido, black admiral, hero of the anti-racist struggle, have already been identified among the best anthems this year. The twelve most renowned schools prepare at length to win the title of champion after a parade of 60 to 70 minutes each. Their fate will be decided by jurors on the basis of precise criteria, quality of floats and costumes, choice of theme or choreography. Cristiane participated in the composition of the samba of the Salgueiro school: “

We can't really understand what's going on in the jury's head, it's a bit of a box of surprises... But I can say that we did our job, and very well!

»

Parade of the Porto da Pedra samba school, February 11, in Rio de Janeiro. AFP - MAURO PIMENTEL

The champion school of the carnival will be revealed this Wednesday, February 14, and will parade again this Saturday. The police deployment around the “sambodrome” to ward off acute crime in Rio is considerable; measures have also been taken to counter a dengue epidemic: the aim is not to spoil a party with enormous impact, 5.3 billion reais (one billion euros) are expected to boost the Brazilian economy during the few weeks of carnival fever. At the same time, the street carnival, led by the “blocos” and their processions with varied musical styles, takes place during the day throughout the city

(

With AFP

)

Read alsoCarnival in Brazil: in Rio de Janeiro, a police operation accused of racism

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