Rio Carnivale, BRAZIL
Airing Date: Oct 10th, 2005
The most exciting time of the year in Brazil is during Carnaval, the popular pre-Lent celebration when the entire country explodes with dancing in the streets, sumptuous costume balls, and colourful parades. Most districts in Rio have their own street parade party.
In Rio de Janeiro, one highlight of the Carnaval celebration is the samba school competition in the Sambadrome on Marqus de Sapuca Avenue. The competition runs over three nights and involves 14 samba schools.
Each of the schools, from the traditional Mangueira School to the more daring Beija Flor, presents an elaborate show complete with thousands of dancers, hundreds of percussionists and singers, fabulous costumes, and colorful floats, each with a different theme, from carousels and waterfalls to cities of the future or the jungle. Millions of dollars are spent as the directors of each spectacle compete to dazzle the audience and win first place.
Samba schools are not teaching institutions. A samba school is an association of people from the same neighbourhood, usually a working class community (or favela) in a suburban area. They get together on a regular basis for rehearsals and samba nights. Samba schools provide valuable jobs to the community, which is employed year-round in the production of costumes and floats.
Each samba school has a period ranging from 60 to 75 minutes to make it through the runway. This means that each member will actually spend only about 25-30 minutes in the Sambadrome. The name samba school originally came about because the earliest samba groups did their practicing on school grounds.
The dates for the Rio Carnaval change every year, but for 2006 the Carnaval will be held from 26/02 until 04/03. Carnaval festivities annually draw around ten million people, although organisers admit that crowds are so large that obtaining exact figures is next to impossible!
Further information
LAN Airlines fly to Rio De Janeiro from $2677 ex Sydney, $2777 ex Melbourne, $2777 ex Brisbane, $3007 ex Adelaide, $3007 ex Hobart & $3547 ex Perth. Prices include surcharges, fees & taxes. Conditions apply.
LAN Airlines
Telephone: 1800 221 572
Website: www.lan.com
A five night package starts from $1527 a person, based on twin share. This includes entry to Sambadrome, tours, transfers & daily breakfast.
The 2006 Rio Carnaval is on from 26/2/06 until 4/3/06.
Unlimited Travel
Telephone: 1300 668 241
Prices correct at 10/10/05
