Highlights from the Rio Carnival Parades

With breathtaking themes, the Rio de Janeiro carnival was once again a grand spectacle.On the first night of parades, an accident marked the opening of the event during the performance of the school Paraíso do Tuiuti, where a float ended up running over about 20 people.Singer Ivete Sangalo was honored by Grande Rio and surprised the audience by participating in the choreography with the front commission, later parading on the last float with her husband and son.The indigenous people of Xingu was the theme of Imperatriz Leopoldinense, which as always marked the parade with its exuberant floats, in addition to the front commission dressed as harpy eagles and the presence of indigenous leaders.Unidos de Vila Isabel brought in its theme the roots of American black music such as Jackson 5, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, and Stevie Wonder, but concluded its last float with Martinho da Vila.Acadêmicos do Salgueiro thrilled the audience with the celebration of “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri, where the floats mixed classical carnival with a certain diabolical tone, giving a terrifying air aided by the school’s traditional color: red.Beija-Flor entered the avenue with the dawn breaking, and brought in its theme an innovative portrayal of the romance between the indigenous Iracema and the Portuguese Martim.On the last day of parades, the first to perform was União da Ilha, which decided to showcase the culture of the Bantu candomblé from Angola. With “Nzara Ndembu! Glory to Lord Time”, the school appropriated the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. In the floats, the legends, traditions, and gods of Nzambi Mpungu, “great creator of the universe”.São Clemente spared no expense in telling the story of a grand ball at the Court of Louis XIV, hosted by then-treasurer Nicolas Fouquet. The school paid attention to small details such as colors, castle, period costumes, and musicians.
Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel brought Moroccoto Sapucaí. The school showcased the traditions of Marrakesh, on Aladdin’s carpet and in Sinbad’s boat, a character from “1001 Nights”. The magical and luxurious colors of the East enchanted the audience from start to finish. The percussion also joined in the samba with choreography.Unidos da Tijuca paraded through Sapucaí, but unfortunately, an accident occurred with the second float that collapsed on the members, and 16 people were trapped in the structure. The parade referenced cinema and pop culture from the United States with music icons like Elvis and Beyoncé.Portela managed to break a 33-year drought and was the big winner by presenting the stories and myths of freshwater at Sapucaí. The eagle, symbol of Portela, appeared majestically, protecting a water source.The last school to perform at Sapucaí, Mangueira aimed for a two-time championship with the theme “Only with the help of the saint”, bringing to the avenue a mix of various beliefs and religions to represent Brazilian religiosity. Highlights included the float featuring Saint George and his dragon, and the percussion dressed as Saint Francis of Assisi.