The Rio Carnival is not just a party, it is a competition. The main attraction of the festival is the Samba Parade, where different samba schools (groups of performers) showcase their skills and creativity at the Sambadrome, a specially built stadium for the occasion. Each samba school has a theme, a song, and a story to tell through their costumes, floats, and choreography. The samba schools are judged by a panel of experts on various criteria, such as harmony, originality, and overall impression.
The samba schools are not just groups of dancers and musicians, they are communities. They represent different neighborhoods and social classes of Rio de Janeiro, and they have a strong sense of identity and pride. The samba schools work all year round to prepare for the Carnival, rehearsing their songs and dances, designing their costumes and floats, and raising funds for their expenses. The samba schools have their own headquarters, where they hold workshops, meetings, and parties. Some of them even have museums and schools to preserve and promote their culture.
The samba schools are divided into different leagues or groups, according to their performance and ranking in previous years. The most prestigious group is the Special Group, which consists of 12 samba schools that parade on Sunday and Monday nights of the Carnival. The second group is the Access Group A, which has 13 samba schools that parade on Saturday night. The third group is the Access Group B, which has 14 samba schools that parade on Friday night. The fourth group is the Access Group C, which has 15 samba schools that parade on Tuesday afternoon. The fifth group is the Access Group D, which has 16 samba schools that parade on Tuesday night.
The winner of each group is promoted to the higher group in the next year, while the last place of each group is demoted to the lower group. The winner of the Special Group is crowned as the champion of the Carnival and gets to parade again on Saturday night after the Carnival in the Champions Parade.
Rio Carnival isn’t just a party; it’s like Brazil’s heartbeat! And guess what? With Away Exotics, you can peek behind the scenes at Rio Carnival 2024. Get ready to dance, sing, and samba like never before. Get intimate with the many Samba schools of Rio. This is your chance to experience the magic of the Greatest Show on Earth with Away Exotics.
