All through the days of the carnival the Rio triad- women, beer and samba rules everything. During the parade, all that one can see are the gorgeous women dressed in skimpy embroidered outfits or body paints and making everyone in the audience, joining in this electric atmosphere. With food stalls displaying the best of Brazilian food and the parties which never seem to end, you will find the party people wherever you head. Rio is the perfect carnival destination blending all the factors that are loved by carnival revelers from around the planet.

Grand rehearsals are regular feature on all the weekends starting December. These preparations on the samba run-way give a preview of the carnival. Mostly these practices give a fair view of the carnival but without the costumes and the floats. Sunday before the carnival is the day when the last rehearsal takes place and there is the testing of lights on this day which is free to watch for all. This final rehearsal will be followed by a colorful street party with great music and samba dances. This is a wonderful experience with local Brazilian dishes and lots of booze, a perfect way to get in party spirit for the grand Rio carnival and witness the essence of life, the Brazilian way.

1-Percussion Band

Percussion instruments keep the rhythm on in the entire parade and thus it is considered very intricately by the judges that the groups do not miss a beat even after the breaks. Continuity and regularity of the beat and the perfect rhythm is what decides the group’s versatility.

2-Samba Song

The Samba Schools perform to a selected theme and it is vital that their lyrics and music are blended together to help them score on both the sub-categories.

3-Harmony

For the perfect visual, acoustical and musical harmony the school’s have to make sure that their rhythm, music and dancing blend perfectly with the dance and the choreography of the members. This ensures high marks.

4-Participants spirit and flow

The participants in the samba school should give a performance which is in flow at the same time being creative and spontaneous as also expressing the vigor, agility and passion of participants. Gaps between wings or paraders invite penalty marks.

5-Overall impact of the performance

No technicalities are considered in this division and only the overall impact is considered. Being the most subjective category it is highly controversial.

6- The selected theme of the band

Each Samba School performs to a central theme which is portrayed through the various parts in the parade. The idea and its development should be transparent to the judges through the various floats and wings. Use of foreign references in the themes is optional and any form of advertising calls for penalty points.

7- Visual impression of theme

The various props and floats used in the parade should depict the artist’s quality and originality in terms of colors, movements and the visual effects. The visual impression through the various things should be in sync with the theme as also the destaques costumes.

8- Costumes impact

Costumes in all categories like Dancers, Wings, Whirling Ladies and Percussionists are judged in this category for their uniqueness, creativity, the right color schemes and also the overall impact. Diversity is as important as the suitability to the central idea.

9- Introduction of the Samba School in the Parade

In this Vanguard Commission category the Samba School’s opening Wing is judged for the costumes and the chorography in their introduction.

10- Coordination of the Flag Bearer and the Escort

The judges consider the elegance, agility and grace combined with the variety and the flexibility of the dance movements of the Flag Carrier lady and her escort-the First Dancing Master. The flag’s symbolic protection is also considered alongside coordination.
Rio carnival is greatest show on carnival scene and the amazing dances and the excellent floats of the participating samba schools make it memorable.

One of the largest parts of the concerned groups in Rio Carnival is the poorest neighborhood, living in the self-styled favelas. The slums are called there favelas or shantytowns, in which dwellings are made up of cardboard or any other scraps, and often they are at a hilly region or may be in plains, without water, sewage system roads and electricity.

However, regardless of how bad a situation is there the favelas´ residents are always in, they stick together in the celebrations and they in point of fact “make” the Rio Carnival. Carnival in actuality means a new life to them, for the reason that for once during a year, they get time to go out and enjoy all the fun which they can enjoy.

Inhabitants of the favelas are mostly members of a nearby samba school and are intensely implicated with the costumes and performance of their groups. Carnival, samba and soccer (football) is the only passion in Rio.

For everyone in Rio, this is a time to team up as a group and have fun simultaneously. Brazil once these days becomes the most broadminded society. Gender and social restrictions disappear as many paraders’ cross-dress themselves.

They may make an effort to organize, glamorize, televise, and even industrialize it however Rio Carnival is somewhat that which comes from the deep roots of high-spirited soul of the Rio de Janeiro people. It does not depend over any permission or sponsor to take place. Carnival on the roads and narrow streets is an exactly what somebody is talking about of this excitement. It’s totally free, and everybody’s welcome to see it and participate in it.

Samba origin

Samba dance and music forms have also been thought to originate during Brazil’s slavery days. When police suspected revolution among slaves and made direct enquiries, they would feel like rebelling. But fearing greater repercussion they would dilute their revolt in more acceptable musical form. This led to Samba music according to some. The agile bodies of slaves made Samba dance attractive and it caught like wildfire. ‘Pelo Telefon’ is the first ever Samba music recording done in 1917.

Samba dance carried its own till 1960 when the hip-hop dances and disco took the sheen off it. But it has returned by varying its context somewhat and making itself a bit restrained. Name of the variation is Pagudo.

Samba wild play

Rio carnival is when the people from all across the world lose themselves in the din and act crazy. The atmosphere is fully musical and Samba rules. Parade ground is laced with Samba dance carnivals performances one by one. It keeps egging the entire audience to dance wildly and participate in acts of passion. Carnivals won’t be the same without Samba.