Dancing and music are an integral part of the Rio carnival. Samba is considered as a famous dance. It is an African dance which was brought through the slaves. African slaves created Samba which is mixed with choros which are the Brazil’s street bands. Samba is a popular dance in the carnival as well as in ghetto villages which are outside the main cities. These villages have an important role as they keep alive sambas historical aspect without the western cultures influence. Some other dance forms are the lundu, polka and also the maxixe (Brazilian tango).
A main dance and the main attraction of the Rio carnival, the samba is not performed silently. Music is a major aspect and feature of the carnival. Samba city states that an important and integral part of Brazil as well as the Rio Carnevale are the Samba Carnival Instruments. These instruments end out beats and rhythms that are irresistible, making the crowds to explode in a dance displaying a revolution fantasy fest. The form of Samba which is found in Rio is known as batucada which refers to the use of percussion instruments in dance and music. It is produced with rhythmic necessity allowing one to sing, dance and also parade simultaneously. Due to this, the batucada style can be seen in Rio’s street carnival.
The origin of the word Samba is from the words Angola Mesemba. This original dance form was a very crude Congo dance in which a lady was characterized by belly bump from the man. But now Samba is a popular dance form all over the world and many couples learn it.
The Samba dance is considered to have started when the Brazilian people were working as slaves. Revolution was suspected by police and when they enquiries. They faced a fight back from the local people. However, they knew the worst effect of rebelling and so they choose a medium of music and dance to exhibit their anger. This is considered to be the history and origin of Samba music by some people. The slaves with swift and supple bodies made this dance form very attractive. The very first recording of the Samba music was done for ‘Pelo Telefon’ in the year 1917.
The original form of Samba dance was in use until 1960. But after that disco and hip-hop dances took away its shine. However, with a new variation named Pagudo, Samba dance has came back with a little different context and steps.
There is one place for the Samba lovers, the Rio carnival. Here people from all over the world come together. The atmosphere is totally filled with Samba music and dance. Non-stop performances of the Samba dance by groups and couples make the audience to dance wild and passion for Samba can be seen all over. Samba becomes the integral part of this carnival without which the carnival is meaningless.
Driven from the land of Bahia, African rhythms, brought to Rio de Janeiro around 1920 is still a part of Samba-reggae and Samba-pagode it is one of the most loved and appreciated styles of Brazil. Whether it be an intimate samba-cancões sung in bars or be it explosive drum the impressive parades performed at the time of carnival, this style, samba evokes a vibrant and warm mood. This style is developed as a very distinctive kind of music. Its first school was organized in the 1930s, somewhere arund Estácio de Sá considered as the first Samba School, at Deixa Falar.
Samba has developed as the soundtrack of carnival parade. Works of Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto have a big hand in its development. Singers and Composers like Clara Nunes, Beth Carvalho, Martinho da Vila, and dominated the hit parade.
Samba took a back slide with the coming up of styles like disco and others in Rio de Janeiro , however it took back its seats in the beginning of the eighties, with it being christened as pagode, a transformed samba, not just with the name but with new instruments, such as tantan and banjo, and a slang laungage. Some of the popular names as Jovelina Pérola Negra, Grupo Fundo de Quintal, Zeca Pagodinho,etc.
One event that can be related to the best samba moves is the Rio carnival happens in Brazil every year. This carnival is the biggest celebration in this part of the world which draws millions of travelers from all over the world to gather at this place. Sambodromo the main place which holds all the parades literally transforms into a samba paradise. The numerous schools in Brazil practice continuously for months to get their acts together which comprises of colorful floats, queens, and the best samba dancers who are selected from many enthusiasts.
In Brazil all who are related with the carnival are given special place in all the hearts and the people welcome everyone to come and be a part of their celebration. The Rio carnival will start on February 13th, 2010 and will continue to spread its magic till February 16th. Rio carnival though mainly associated with samba also comprises of many other aspects of which the carnival balls and the captivating street parties requires a special mention. The whole of the atmosphere that fills every thing during the Rio carnival is hard to locate elsewhere in the world. But for all those who missed their reservations deadline there would always be a chance next year to come and be part of this mega event.
