RIO DE JANEIRO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- From February to March each year, Brazil enters its most vibrant season. As the rhythm of the drums begins, music and dance intertwine, transforming the entire country into a grand stage. At the heart of this revelry lies the Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro, where dancers, drummers, designers, and artisans create a series of dazzling moments. For photographers, it is a visual feast. For Brazilians, it is a grand showcase of cultural identity.
Glorious Nights of the Sambodromo
The Rio de Janeiro Carnival parade is world-famous, and competition among samba schools adds a strong sense of ritual to the celebration. The Sambodromo, a venue built exclusively for the Carnival, was completed in 1984 and has become the centerpiece of the festivity. Each year, various samba schools compete here for the championship with meticulously choreographed shows and music.
The competition is divided into multiple levels, with the "Special Group" representing the highest level of Brazil's carnival artistry. Schools of this category must excel not only in choreography but also in artistic innovation. Their annual themes, costumes, and floats are carefully designed. For Brazilians, the Special Group parade is not just a grand cultural performance but a symbol of national spirit, creativity and unity. It is a reaffirmation of their identity and a common hope for the future.
The competition follows strict rules. Each samba school must perform within a set time, seamlessly integrating dance, costumes, floats and music. Judges score based on rigorous criteria, including thematic expression, musical quality, dance execution and costume creativity. Over the years, some samba schools such as Mangueira, Beija-Flor and Grande Rio have maintained a dominant presence, becoming cultural icons of the Carnival.
Under the dazzling lights of the Sambodromo, elaborate floats march forward, and performers dressed in shining costumes synchronize their dance moves with the rhythmic drumming, displaying an unparalleled passion. The camera captures not only their movements but also ecstasy in their eyes.
Samba school dancers take part in the Carnival parade
Behind the Samba Schools
To truly understand the essence of carnival, samba school is a must. In July 2023, I visited the Grande Rio samba school and witnessed the intricate workings of samba culture.
A samba school is way more than a training ground for dancers; it acts as a cultural club composed mainly of dancers, designers, artisans and musicians. Once the carnival theme is settled, the design team begins brainstorming, turning abstract ideas into tangible masterpieces. The costume-making process is complicated, with fabric selection and hand-stitched details displaying the artisans' workmanship.
The creation of floats blends mechanical engineering with artistic vision. The team must ensure structural stability while delivering breathtaking visual effects. The leader of Grande Rio showed me their workshop, which is filled with massive steel frames, vibrantly colored fabrics, and intricately sculpted decorations. Every part undergoes countless refinements before completion.
Notably, the themes, costumes and float designs of Special Group samba schools are strictly confidential before the Carnival. Otherwise, any leaks may affect scores and final rankings. As I toured the workshop, I felt the tense atmosphere. Every corner was stuffed with unfinished works, while the costume and float components would create a surprise in the competition night.
School training also carries a sense of ritual. After rigorous selections, the performers should learn how to coordinate their dance moves with musical rhythms, stage presence, and the whole team. For them, carnival is not just a performance, but an expression of identity.
A storage room with materials for making carnival costumes
A tour guide introduces the costume design to tourists
A designer stands among float models he crafted
Designers make float models, most of which are handmade
Workers build the frame of a float
A carnival dancer prepares to show her costumes to tourists
Chinese Elements in the Carnival
In 2024, my colleagues and I visited a samba school in Belo Horizonte that adopted the Chinese Year of the Dragon as its theme, a highlight of cultural exchange between the two countries.
The school's director explained that they aimed to convey strength and fortune through the imagery of dragon while paying tribute to Chinese culture. The costumes feature traditional Chinese colors and embroidery techniques, with gold and red hues shining brightly under the stage lights. The float design also incorporates Chinese elements, with a massive dragon coiling atop a float, moving in sync with the rhythm of music.
Artisans intricately carved float details, welders shaped the dragon pattern amidst a shower of sparks, and tailors carefully cut and sewed fabrics for the performers' attire. These scenes highlight another side of the Carnival: a harmony between craftsmanship and visual effects. To these craftsmen, carnival is not just about stage performances but also about the dedication to every creation.
A dance school staff member makes a carnival headdress
Dance school staff members make carnival costumes
A dance school staff member adjusts percussion instruments
Carnival costumes to be distributed to performers in the parade
A staff member puts on the carnival headdress
Dance school designers make float decorations
A dance school staff member shows a carnival float design draft
Workers weld the metal frame of a carnival float
Dance school designers make float decorations
The principal of the "City Garden" dance school caresses a carnival float decoration
A designer from the "City Garden" dance school makes costumes for the carnival parade
After the Carnival ends, the Sambodromo returns to its usual tranquility, but training in samba schools continues. Preparations for the next year begin. The carnival is more than just a festive event. It is an integral part of Brazilian life and an extension of cultural memory.
For photographers, the allure of carnival lies not only in its vibrant colors and pulsating rhythms but also in the stories behind. Each glimmering moment on stage comes from months of relentless effort and time-honored tradition. The Brazilian Carnival transcends national boundaries. It is a sparkling gem in the world's cultural treasury, rewriting new chapters year after year.
Share
Tweet
Share
Flip
Email
