A samba queen's guide to Rio de Janeiro
1 month, 1 week ago

A samba queen's guide to Rio de Janeiro

BBC  

A samba queen's guide to Rio de Janeiro 22 February 2025 Share Save Luana Ferreira Share Save Alamy Mayara Lima is famous for her hypnotising samba style. We asked Mayara Lima, a rainha de bateria at Pararaíso do Tuiti, one of Rio's most renowned samba schools, how to experience the city's rich samba culture during Carnival and beyond. Best for understanding the essence of samba: Escolas de samba events Rio's samba school parade is a global spectacle every Carnival season. For Lima, the Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Acadêmicos do Salgueiro samba school holds one of Rio's best feijoadas.

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History of this topic

With flicks of the wrist, Rio Carnival’s drum maestros keep everyone locked in on the beat
3 weeks, 3 days ago

With flicks of the wrist, Rio Carnival’s drum maestros keep everyone locked in on the beat

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — At a classical orchestra, a conductor’s raised hands often means the start of a performance. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print The Mocidade Independente samba school, one of Rio’s most popular, has 240 drummers in its section. Not in a samba drum section; they’re drummers,” said Carlos Eduardo Oliveira, …

A samba school rises to Rio Carnival's top league, bringing an economic boom to its poor residents
3 weeks, 5 days ago

A samba school rises to Rio Carnival's top league, bringing an economic boom to its poor residents

Hindustan Times  

RIO DE JANEIRO — Carnival always breathes life into the economy of Vila Vintem, a favela on Rio de Janeiro's west side, but this year the pulse is even stronger with its Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school returning to the top samba parade league for the first time in almost 60 years. A samba school rises to Rio Carnival's …

A samba school rises to Rio Carnival’s top league, bringing an economic boom to its poor residents
3 weeks, 5 days ago

A samba school rises to Rio Carnival’s top league, bringing an economic boom to its poor residents

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — Carnival always breathes life into the economy of Vila Vintem, a favela on Rio de Janeiro’s west side, but this year the pulse is even stronger with its Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school returning to the top samba parade league for the first time in almost 60 years. Carnival season always breathes life into the …

A samba at Rio's Carnival will explore the city's African past and its Bantu people
3 weeks, 6 days ago

A samba at Rio's Carnival will explore the city's African past and its Bantu people

NPR  

A samba at Rio's Carnival will explore the city's African past and its Bantu people One of Rio's most storied Samba schools will explore the "Pain and Passion" of the lives of the Bantu people in the city. That's the message one of Rio de Janeiro's famous samba schools is delivering at this weekend's official Carnival parade, as NPR's Carrie …

Rio’s Carnival kicks off as mayor gives key to the city to King Momo
1 month ago

Rio’s Carnival kicks off as mayor gives key to the city to King Momo

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio de Janeiro’s mayor handed over the key to the city to its Carnival monarch on Friday, opening King Momo’s five-day reign over the festivities. Call King Momo until Ash Wednesday comes,” Mayor Eduardo Paes, wearing shorts and a Panama hat, told Carnival revelers as drummers and veteran members of local samba schools celebrated and sang …

Samba project led by Navy transgender woman in the spotlight at Rio Carnival
1 month ago

Samba project led by Navy transgender woman in the spotlight at Rio Carnival

Hindustan Times  

By Janaina Quinet and Tita Barros Samba project led by Navy transgender woman in the spotlight at Rio Carnival RIO DE JANEIRO, - A group of Brazilian transgender women have been learning samba in the last few months as they prepare to take the stage at the world-renowned Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro in March. The women will lead …

Rio Carnival’s overlooked, all-important rite: The count
2 years, 1 month ago

Rio Carnival’s overlooked, all-important rite: The count

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio de Janeiro couldn’t resume regular life after the Carnival festivities came to a close until “the count” of scores from the parade competition was complete and a victor proclaimed. “It’s the pleasure of doing the parade correctly and the satisfaction of taking the title home,” Maria da Conceição da Silva, 59, said Monday night before …

Rio Carnival's overlooked, all-important rite: The count
2 years, 1 month ago

Rio Carnival's overlooked, all-important rite: The count

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It’s the pleasure of doing the parade correctly and …

Rio’s first all-female samba school prepares defiant parade
2 years, 1 month ago

Rio’s first all-female samba school prepares defiant parade

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — As Carnival approaches in Rio de Janeiro, members of a samba school perfect a minutely-tuned performance with dancers twirling in blue, red and white skirts and 40 drummers pounding the rhythm with gusto. “The big samba schools are coordinated by men, which means women are used to receiving orders,” Barbara Rigaud, a 54-year-old cultural producer and …

‘Ole, Ola, Lula’: The role of samba in Brazil’s election season
2 years, 6 months ago

‘Ole, Ola, Lula’: The role of samba in Brazil’s election season

Firstpost  

In a nod to the symbolism of samba’s Afro-Brazilian character, Brazil’s presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva chose the Portela samba school for one of his final rallies Rio de Janeiro: In Pedra do Sal, the birthplace of samba in Rio de Janeiro, supporters chant “Ole, Ola, Lula” as they sway rhythmically, brandishing flags, T-shirts and caps bearing the …

Rio’s dazzling Carnival parade resumes after pandemic hiatus
2 years, 11 months ago

Rio’s dazzling Carnival parade resumes after pandemic hiatus

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio de Janeiro’s top samba schools began putting on their delayed Carnival parades late Friday, the first after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19-pandemic. Entire communities rally around the competing samba schools, whose shows are not only a source of pride but also employment since preparations require countless seamstresses, welders, costume designers and more. Both …

Rio’s Carnival parade is back, as street bands ache to party
2 years, 11 months ago

Rio’s Carnival parade is back, as street bands ache to party

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Eduardo Paes on Wednesday ceremonially handed control of the city to King Momo, a ritual representing the upheaval of the status quo -- but it remains to be seen how much post-pandemic partying is in store during the first Carnival in two years. Revelers dance in the “Cordão do Boitata” parade during …

Rio’s Carnival celebration is back, but parties will be smaller
2 years, 11 months ago

Rio’s Carnival celebration is back, but parties will be smaller

Al Jazeera  

Samba school floats and feather-festooned dancers to join parade in Brazilian city as COVID-19 cases decline. After two years of COVID-19 cancellations, Rio de Janeiro’s mayor has officially opened the world’s most famous carnival celebration, handing a key to the city to “King Momo”, the symbolic ruler of the festivities. “I proudly announce the greatest show on Earth is back …

Rio de Janeiro delays Carnival parades as omicron spreads
3 years, 2 months ago

Rio de Janeiro delays Carnival parades as omicron spreads

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — The world-famous Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro will be held in late April rather than the final weekend of February, as the number of coronavirus cases in Brazil spikes and the omicron variant spreads across the country. “The decision was made respecting for the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and the need, …

How a Brazil samba school shimmied from Carnival to COVID-19
4 years, 4 months ago

How a Brazil samba school shimmied from Carnival to COVID-19

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — The sultry heat of the Southern Hemisphere’s summer will soon be rolling into Rio de Janeiro. In a normal year, Baracho’s organization — the Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school — would already be a hive of preparation for the coming Carnival. “It’s part of Rio’s people, especially in our region and community, to look forward …

Rio's Samba Scene Struggles to Find a Tune After Coronavirus Batters Brazil
4 years, 4 months ago

Rio's Samba Scene Struggles to Find a Tune After Coronavirus Batters Brazil

News 18  

After months of coronavirus-induced inactivity, Rio de Janeiro’s legendary samba scene is tentatively tiptoeing back to life, offering a sliver of hope to those whose livelihoods depend on the traditional Afro-Brazilian musical genre. The small crowd gathered to hear Moacyr Luz, one of the city’s most well-known samba stars, sing the “Worker’s Samba” at a recent event in Rio highlighted …

Rio’s Carnival suspended for the first time in 108 years, thanks to coronavirus
4 years, 6 months ago

Rio’s Carnival suspended for the first time in 108 years, thanks to coronavirus

LA Times  

Performers from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the first night of Carnival at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The annual Carnival parade of flamboyant samba schools in Rio de Janeiro won’t be held in February as planned because of the coronavirus — the first time the over-the-top event has been disrupted in more than a …

Rio Carnival 2020: When is it, where is it and what are the best events to attend?
5 years, 1 month ago

Rio Carnival 2020: When is it, where is it and what are the best events to attend?

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rio Carnival is one of the biggest, boldest and brightest events in the Brazilian calendar. All …

AP Explains: Rio’s Carnival, a high-stakes samba parade
8 years, 1 month ago

AP Explains: Rio’s Carnival, a high-stakes samba parade

Associated Press  

RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival parade is world famous for the samba dancing, costumes that leave little to the imagination and the magnificent floats that roll down Avenida Marques de Sapucai, also known as the “sambadrome.” For the competitors, getting to the big show is months in the making. Rio’s samba school league picks 54 judges who …

Beijing goes Brazilian Samba and percussion
8 years, 7 months ago

Beijing goes Brazilian Samba and percussion

China Daily  

Beijing's samba percussion ensemble is putting on an exuberating performance. It's hot a Sunday afternoon, but this Beijing's samba percussion ensemble is putting on an exuberating performance to an equally excited audience: me. Whether in Brazil or abroad samba has become a symbol of the Brazilian nation and it's growth in China is unprecedented. Today suddenly on the dance class …

Rio de Janeiro: What you need to know when visiting Brazil's tourism capital
8 years, 7 months ago

Rio de Janeiro: What you need to know when visiting Brazil's tourism capital

Firstpost  

From its natural sights to man-made marvels like the famous Christ the Redeemer statue; from its samba to capoeira, and now the Olympics, Rio is indeed the cultural capital of Brazil Editor’s note: As Rio De Janeiro prepares to welcome over half a million visitors for the 2016 Olympic Games, to be held during 5-21 August, Firstpost presents a series …

Olympics 2016: From safety to samba, here's a handy guide to visiting Rio de Janeiro
8 years, 7 months ago

Olympics 2016: From safety to samba, here's a handy guide to visiting Rio de Janeiro

Firstpost  

Rio de Janeiro: With the Olympics just a few weeks away, Brazil faces a litany of problems: an economy in freefall, the Zika virus and a political crisis with an impeached president. But for those brave — or foolhardy — enough to make the trip, Rio de Janeiro is a city rich with potential rewards. But no matter how good …

The greatest shows on earth
13 years, 1 month ago

The greatest shows on earth

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Cosmos Holidays has seven nights at Alila Diwa Goa from £1,074 per person, departing Gatwick on 16 February, including flights …

Murder taints the carnival as mafia invades Samba schools
20 years, 3 months ago

Murder taints the carnival as mafia invades Samba schools

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Preparations for Rio de …

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