Rio de Janeiro Carnival
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Pre-Carnival Events
In fact, it is a few weeks before carnival that
the best parties, the most animated group rehearsals,
the competition for the election of Carnival King
and Queen, the samba shows that open the Terreirão
(see entry below), the final rehearsals at the samba
schools and the costume exhibitions take place.
It is also then that the information about where
and how to join a samba school for the official
parade and about the days and times of the best
bands are communicated through the grapevine.
Bands and Groups
Before and during carnival the carioca's greatest
entertainment is to join the bands and parading
groups when they start their rehearsals that have
become the highest moments in the pre-carnival period,
the great summer festivities in Rio de Janeiro.
Terreirão do Samba
Open space that resuscitates the atmosphere of Praça
Onze, square in the city centre, cradle of the samba.
It is usually inaugurated before carnival, functioning
at full steam through the three nights of the festivity.
Consecutive shows of Brazilian popular music and
samba take place on an imposing stage. Kiosks sell
food and cold beer.
Samba School Rehearsals
These rehearsals are the best introduction to the
authentic samba. The moment the first pulsating
sounds from the percussion instruments of a samba
school are heard, one's whole body responds and
the feet follow the rhythm. All samba schools have
a rehearsal yard or hall, generally used on weekends.
There people dance and learn the samba of the school
that will be presented at the parade. It is undoubtedly
an unforgettable experience. There are also dress
rehearsal at the Passarela do Samba, a good opportunity
to enjoy part of the great festivity.
Watching the samba schools parade is living carnival
itself. It means bouncing about, singing the lyrics
of the sambas, supporting the schools, vibrating
with the exciting atmosphere. For one hour and twenty
minutes each school exhibits the beautiful creativity
of local artisans, in a show of vitality, brilliance
and movement, product of the community's hard work
throughout the year. Groups of helpers are organized
and, in the huge sheds in the Centre, work does
not stop. For those who take part in the whole process,
the samba school is like a religion and every year
the ritual of joy is dazzling.SAMBA SCHOOLS PARADE
SAMBA SCHOOLS PARADE
Venue
Passarela do Samba Professor Darcy Ribeiro –
Sambódromo
Rua Marquês de Sapucaí, s/n –
Praça Onze – Cidade Nova - Rio de Janeiro
PARTICIPANTS IN THE PARADE
SAMBA SCHOOLS IN THE SPECIAL GROUP
The parade, high point of carnaval, takes place
on a Sunday and a Monday, with seven schools each
time.
The schools belonging to this group, affiliated
to the Liga Independente das Escolas de Samaba do
Rio de Janeiro, are specially magnificent and sumptuous,
each containing approximately five thousand participants
plus celebrated Brazilian show-business and jet-set
personalities.
*A* GROUP SAMBA SCHOOLS
These schools, affiliated to the Associação
das Escolas de Samba da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro,
form the Grupo de Acesso.
They are 10 large and important schools that thrillingly
and beautifully parade on the Saturday with their
plots narrated through their samba, costumes and
allegoric cars. The champion of this parade ascends
to the Special Group.
*B* GROUP SAMBA SCHOOLS
They are also called base groups, as they are the
popular bases from which the big schools originated.
Small, each school having approximately one thousand
and five hundred participants, they nevertheless
parade with much vigour to defend their carnival.
CHAMPIONS’ SATURDAY
On the Saturday after carnival, the Samba Schools
winners of the Special Group, from Sunday and Monday,
parade in all their splendour.
JUNIOR SAMBA SCHOOLS
These are branches of the big schools constituted
by children of each community.
Their parade, on the Friday before carnival, follows
the procedure of the big schools.
Types and capacity of accommodations available to
the public:
BOXES
Private spaces rentable for the whole festivities,
including the Champions’ Saturday, subdivided
in:
Special Boxes – Four buildings between sectors
3, 5, 7 and 9 holding up to 24 spectators in A Boxes
and 20 in B Boxes, in a total of 40 boxes holding
up to 880 spectators.
Boxes in sectors 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 4 – 24
boxes per sector, in a total of 144 boxes holding
up to 1,728 spectators.
Boxes in Sector 2 – There are three storeys
divided in 1st floor - A,2nd floor - B and 3rd floor
- C, each box holding 12 spectators. The three storeys
adding to a total of 306 boxes for 3,672 spectators.
Daily capacity of the boxes - 6,280 people.
DRESS CIRCLE
Uncovered boxes with walls and chairs for six occupants
each, in sectors 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 4, in a total
of 1,094 holding up to 6,564 spectators. Uncovered
boxes with walls for 4 people, in sectors 06 and
13, in a total of 68 boxes, holding up to 272 for
each night of the parade.
INDIVIDUAL CHAIRS
3.900 Chairs are placed on steps in sectors 6 and
13.
TIERS OF SEATS
Uncovered spaces up to 15,80 m high, reached by
stairs.
Sectors 3,5, 7 and 11, each sitting 2,850 spectators,Sector
4, holding up to 2,750 spectators, Sector 9 - numbered
seats hold up to 2,304 spectators, in a total of
16,454 spectators.
Handicapped Places
Sector 4 - 25 places for the physically handicapped
with companion.Tickets to be sold.
Sector 13 - for the paraplegic - 100 spaces for
wheelchairs; handicapped and companion - 200 chairs;
Access to this sector - CIAT - Integrated Centre
for Handicapped persons.
POPULAR TIERS OF SEATS
Sector 1 – in the area where the schools organize
themselves for the parade; Sectors 6 and 13 –
at Praça da Apoteose from where the end of
the parade can be seen. Sector 1 holds up to 6,500
spectators and Sectors 6 and 13 up to 9,600 each,
in a total of 25,700 spectators.
CARNIVAL, OTHER LARKS
The festivities begin on the Friday before carnival
when the mayor symbolically hands over to the King
of Carnival (Rei Momo) the key to the city of Rio
de Janeiro.
RIO FOLIA AND DANCES IN CINELÂNDIA
Rio carnaval has been known as a nursery for novelties,
rhythms and styles. It always has pleasant surprises
for the public that goes towards the Arcos da Lapa,
where Rio Folia presents shows of music ranging
from traditional Brazilian music to the new trends
that come up every year.
In Cinelândia, the open-air party lasts for
five days to the sound of acclaimed orchestras and
singers, symbols of carnival music, reviving thus
the carnival balls of the past.
POPULAR DANCES
From Saturday to Tuesday, open-air dances take place
throughout the city. The emphasis is on joy and
spontaneity.
OFFICIAL COSTUME COMPETITION
Sumptuous or original costumes are elements of a
theatrical performance in the halls of Hotel Glória,
on the afternoon of the Saturday of carnival. The
huge and dazzling costumes represent historical
characters or different concepts, according to the
imagination of the gentlemen, ladies and of drag
queens that participate in the event.
ORIGINAL REVELER CONTEST
An instantaneous stage for street carnival, this
is the contest for the anonymous artist and the
enthusiastic reveller with their fantastic costumes.
The prizes go to the best Group,Clóvis, Adult
and Junior Individual. The party closing the contest
takes place in Cinelândia.
BANDSTAND COMPETITION
The competition takes place throughout the city
with the direct participation of inhabitants of
the different districts, who are responsible for
the decoration and liveliness of the bandstands.
The prizes take into consideration creativity, colours,
lightening and enthusiasm.
BLOCOS DE EMBALO, BANDS AND STREET GROUPS
It is the heart of carnival, which beats on Av.
Rio Branco, in the Centre of town, that presents
from Saturday to Tuesday the greatest variety of
blocos de Embalo e Empolgação, and
it is where the merry-making is at its wildest with
traditional groups such as Cordão da Bola
Preta, Cacique de Ramos, Bafo da Onça, to
mention just a few. A visit in the end of the afternoon
is always entertaining.
In the districts, specially in the zona sul districts
of Gávea, Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana and
Botafogo, the bands and street groups anticipate
their carnival in the pre-carnival rehearsals. All
you have to do is to turn up and join, you can also
buy the respective T-shirt and start dancing before
the group takes to the streets.
CARNIVAL DANCES
The Magic Ball at Copacabana Palace Hotel is the
high point of the Saturday. Scala nightclub promotes
thematic dances every night and closes the festivities
with the Gala Gay ball. Other nightclubs and clubs,
such as Club dos Caiçara, Scala and the Hard
Rock Café’s Kid’s Folia organize
animated costume balls for adults and children.
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