‘Beija Flor’ means ‘Humming Bird’ which is a beloved and omnipresent bird in the Rio region. The school is based outside of Rio (in a place called Nilopolis). However it is currently ranked the highest among all Rio samba schools. It has achieved the reputation of being the best school by a combination of outstanding and unparalleled artistic organizational management with a strong determination to win. It is the only school with a whole team of Carnival Designers (currently 5 of them) where as most other schools only have one. It imposes strict rules and has the highest expectations towards all of its parading members. It began its recent winning streak in 1998 and won again in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008. In the years it didn’t win it has come very close and competitive. It is well-known for its creative extravagance and powerful colors.

The highlight of Brazil Carnival is undoubtedly the Rio Samba Schools Parade, a totally unique event in the world.

The Rio Samba Parade is the review of a fierce competition between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event.

The Samba Parade is something everybody should experience at least once in their life. The event is broadcast live to several countries.

The Rio Samba Parade is very distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places in the world. It is not a street happening where people move chaotically about as they like, but more of a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. Every parader has a specific role and place according to his costume in a particular wing, of a particular section of the samba school he/she is parading in support of.

Each year each school chooses a different theme for the Samba Parade. It can be a celebration of a particular period, or, of famous figures of Brazilian history. It may highlight a special event or speak of anything that might move the spirit and imagination; like a special animal, or one of the elements; water or fire, etc. The school has to illustrate the chosen theme through all its work:

• the samba tunes, which are especially written for that year
• the richly decorated floats and costumes of their 3,000 to 5,000 parading members designed by the school’s Carnival Designer (the so called Carnavalesco).

The parade of every school is highly organized and designed. They line up in a unique way to present their pageant.

The costumes are extremely imaginative, colorful, elaborate and detailed. They are truly original, designed and made from scratch each year. They have mirrors, feathers, metallic cloth, silk and sometimes gems or coins. These costumes take months to make. The work starts roughly 8 months in advance.

You may think of the whole event as a tropical opera or rather like several operas happening on one night. It is beautiful to watch and the experience for the paraders themselves is so intense that the memories last for a lifetime.

Duration : 0:10:0

[youtube QrL3A34nGSQ]

Duration : 0:1:40

[youtube GurUKswd1EA]

This is the 3rd oldest Rio samba school. It became noticed again in 2004, as a surprise to everyone, with its creative and innovative artistic work.

The highlight of Brazil Carnival is undoubtedly the Rio Samba Schools Parade, a totally unique event in the world.

The Rio Samba Parade is the review of a fierce competition between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event.

The Samba Parade is something everybody should experience at least once in their life. The event is broadcast live to several countries.

The Rio Samba Parade is very distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places in the world. It is not a street happening where people move chaotically about as they like, but more of a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. Every parader has a specific role and place according to his costume in a particular wing, of a particular section of the samba school he/she is parading in support of.

Each year each school chooses a different theme for the Samba Parade. It can be a celebration of a particular period, or, of famous figures of Brazilian history. It may highlight a special event or speak of anything that might move the spirit and imagination; like a special animal, or one of the elements; water or fire, etc. The school has to illustrate the chosen theme through all its work:

• the samba tunes, which are especially written for that year
• the richly decorated floats and costumes of their 3,000 to 5,000 parading members designed by the school’s Carnival Designer (the so called Carnavalesco).

The parade of every school is highly organized and designed. They line up in a unique way to present their pageant.

The costumes are extremely imaginative, colorful, elaborate and detailed. They are truly original, designed and made from scratch each year. They have mirrors, feathers, metallic cloth, silk and sometimes gems or coins. These costumes take months to make. The work starts roughly 8 months in advance.

You may think of the whole event as a tropical opera or rather like several operas happening on one night. It is beautiful to watch and the experience for the paraders themselves is so intense that the memories last for a lifetime.

Duration : 0:5:40

[youtube PuZagGBgdrM]

The highlight of Brazil Carnival is undoubtedly the Rio Samba Schools Parade, a totally unique event in the world.

The Rio Samba Parade is the review of a fierce competition between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event.

The Samba Parade is something everybody should experience at least once in their life. The event is broadcast live to several countries.

The Rio Samba Parade is very distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places in the world. It is not a street happening where people move chaotically about as they like, but more of a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. Every parader has a specific role and place according to his costume in a particular wing, of a particular section of the samba school he/she is parading in support of.

Each year each school chooses a different theme for the Samba Parade. It can be a celebration of a particular period, or, of famous figures of Brazilian history. It may highlight a special event or speak of anything that might move the spirit and imagination; like a special animal, or one of the elements; water or fire, etc. The school has to illustrate the chosen theme through all its work:

• the samba tunes, which are especially written for that year
• the richly decorated floats and costumes of their 3,000 to 5,000 parading members designed by the school’s Carnival Designer (the so called Carnavalesco).

The parade of every school is highly organized and designed. They line up in a unique way to present their pageant.

The costumes are extremely imaginative, colorful, elaborate and detailed. They are truly original, designed and made from scratch each year. They have mirrors, feathers, metallic cloth, silk and sometimes gems or coins. These costumes take months to make. The work starts roughly 8 months in advance.

You may think of the whole event as a tropical opera or rather like several operas happening on one night. It is beautiful to watch and the experience for the paraders themselves is so intense that the memories last for a lifetime.

Duration : 0:9:57

[youtube ORMzRawBIZw]

Porto da Pedra was originally part of a soccer club established by a teen street gang. A relative new-comer both as a school and in the Special Group (only among the elite since 1995). It has achieved its quick success due to huge investments from its sponsors buying very well-known carnival designers from its competitors. It is based in in the suburbs of Niteroi, across the bay from Rio.

The highlight of Brazil Carnival is undoubtedly the Rio Samba Schools Parade, a totally unique event in the world.

The Rio Samba Parade is the review of a fierce competition between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event.

The Samba Parade is something everybody should experience at least once in their life. The event is broadcast live to several countries.

The Rio Samba Parade is very distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places in the world. It is not a street happening where people move chaotically about as they like, but more of a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. Every parader has a specific role and place according to his costume in a particular wing, of a particular section of the samba school he/she is parading in support of.

Each year each school chooses a different theme for the Samba Parade. It can be a celebration of a particular period, or, of famous figures of Brazilian history. It may highlight a special event or speak of anything that might move the spirit and imagination; like a special animal, or one of the elements; water or fire, etc. The school has to illustrate the chosen theme through all its work:

• the samba tunes, which are especially written for that year
• the richly decorated floats and costumes of their 3,000 to 5,000 parading members designed by the school’s Carnival Designer (the so called Carnavalesco).

The parade of every school is highly organized and designed. They line up in a unique way to present their pageant.

The costumes are extremely imaginative, colorful, elaborate and detailed. They are truly original, designed and made from scratch each year. They have mirrors, feathers, metallic cloth, silk and sometimes gems or coins. These costumes take months to make. The work starts roughly 8 months in advance.

You may think of the whole event as a tropical opera or rather like several operas happening on one night. It is beautiful to watch and the experience for the paraders themselves is so intense that the memories last for a lifetime.

Duration : 0:9:44

[youtube Xl9NQ4AYm2E]

This is the 3rd oldest Rio samba school. It became noticed again in 2004, as a surprise to everyone, with its creative and innovative artistic work.

The highlight of Brazil Carnival is undoubtedly the Rio Samba Schools Parade, a totally unique event in the world.

The Rio Samba Parade is the review of a fierce competition between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event.

The Samba Parade is something everybody should experience at least once in their life. The event is broadcast live to several countries.

The Rio Samba Parade is very distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places in the world. It is not a street happening where people move chaotically about as they like, but more of a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. Every parader has a specific role and place according to his costume in a particular wing, of a particular section of the samba school he/she is parading in support of.

Each year each school chooses a different theme for the Samba Parade. It can be a celebration of a particular period, or, of famous figures of Brazilian history. It may highlight a special event or speak of anything that might move the spirit and imagination; like a special animal, or one of the elements; water or fire, etc. The school has to illustrate the chosen theme through all its work:

• the samba tunes, which are especially written for that year
• the richly decorated floats and costumes of their 3,000 to 5,000 parading members designed by the school’s Carnival Designer (the so called Carnavalesco).

The parade of every school is highly organized and designed. They line up in a unique way to present their pageant.

The costumes are extremely imaginative, colorful, elaborate and detailed. They are truly original, designed and made from scratch each year. They have mirrors, feathers, metallic cloth, silk and sometimes gems or coins. These costumes take months to make. The work starts roughly 8 months in advance.

You may think of the whole event as a tropical opera or rather like several operas happening on one night. It is beautiful to watch and the experience for the paraders themselves is so intense that the memories last for a lifetime.

Duration : 0:9:59

[youtube gZyDH5beam0]

Part 1 of 2.

Mangueira is Brazil’s most popular samba school due to its old tradition, a very strong support community and the most successful samba hall. It was the winner of the first Samba Parade held in the Sambodromo and has been ranked very high year by year ever since, for its consistently strong performance. It is the oldest among the existing Rio samba schools.

The Rio Samba Parade is the review of a fierce competition between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event.

The Samba Parade is something everybody should experience at least once in their life. The event is broadcast live to several countries.

The Rio Samba Parade is very distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places in the world. It is not a street happening where people move chaotically about as they like, but more of a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. Every parader has a specific role and place according to his costume in a particular wing, of a particular section of the samba school he/she is parading in support of.

Each year each school chooses a different theme for the Samba Parade. It can be a celebration of a particular period, or, of famous figures of Brazilian history. It may highlight a special event or speak of anything that might move the spirit and imagination; like a special animal, or one of the elements; water or fire, etc. The school has to illustrate the chosen theme through all its work:

• the samba tunes, which are especially written for that year
• the richly decorated floats and costumes of their 3,000 to 5,000 parading members designed by the school’s Carnival Designer (the so called Carnavalesco).

The parade of every school is highly organized and designed. They line up in a unique way to present their pageant.

The costumes are extremely imaginative, colorful, elaborate and detailed. They are truly original, designed and made from scratch each year. They have mirrors, feathers, metallic cloth, silk and sometimes gems or coins. These costumes take months to make. The work starts roughly 8 months in advance.

You may think of the whole event as a tropical opera or rather like several operas happening on one night. It is beautiful to watch and the experience for the paraders themselves is so intense that the memories last for a lifetime.

Duration : 0:10:0

[youtube Uuylcr7NuLY]

Duration : 0:4:33

[youtube 371IFZhfx9g]

Three-time winner in a row (in 1999, 2000 and 2001 – ‘coincidently’ in the same years that the School President was heading the Judging Committee) which is the only current record holder challenged by Beija-Flor. Its success is due to its technically excellent performance. The School’s long-time female Carnival Designer, Rosa Magalhães makes idiosyncratic fairy-tale like artistic creations.

The highlight of Brazil Carnival is undoubtedly the Rio Samba Schools Parade, a totally unique event in the world.

The Rio Samba Parade is the review of a fierce competition between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event.

The Samba Parade is something everybody should experience at least once in their life. The event is broadcast live to several countries.

The Rio Samba Parade is very distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places in the world. It is not a street happening where people move chaotically about as they like, but more of a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. Every parader has a specific role and place according to his costume in a particular wing, of a particular section of the samba school he/she is parading in support of.

Each year each school chooses a different theme for the Samba Parade. It can be a celebration of a particular period, or, of famous figures of Brazilian history. It may highlight a special event or speak of anything that might move the spirit and imagination; like a special animal, or one of the elements; water or fire, etc. The school has to illustrate the chosen theme through all its work:

• the samba tunes, which are especially written for that year
• the richly decorated floats and costumes of their 3,000 to 5,000 parading members designed by the school’s Carnival Designer (the so called Carnavalesco).

The parade of every school is highly organized and designed. They line up in a unique way to present their pageant.

The costumes are extremely imaginative, colorful, elaborate and detailed. They are truly original, designed and made from scratch each year. They have mirrors, feathers, metallic cloth, silk and sometimes gems or coins. These costumes take months to make. The work starts roughly 8 months in advance.

You may think of the whole event as a tropical opera or rather like several operas happening on one night. It is beautiful to watch and the experience for the paraders themselves is so intense that the memories last for a lifetime.

Duration : 0:9:55

[youtube fGuroHxT2Fo]

Vila Isabel is a very old, traditional school which almost went into oblivion. It lingered in the Access Group for a long time until recently when it re-joined the Special Group in 1995, with an astonishing championship. After that, in 1996, it hired one of the most energetic up-and-coming carnival designers and has scored very high again in the last few years.

The highlight of Brazil Carnival is undoubtedly the Rio Samba Schools Parade, a totally unique event in the world.

The Rio Samba Parade is the review of a fierce competition between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event.

The Samba Parade is something everybody should experience at least once in their life. The event is broadcast live to several countries.

The Rio Samba Parade is very distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places in the world. It is not a street happening where people move chaotically about as they like, but more of a highly orchestrated show of vast proportions. Every parader has a specific role and place according to his costume in a particular wing, of a particular section of the samba school he/she is parading in support of.

Each year each school chooses a different theme for the Samba Parade. It can be a celebration of a particular period, or, of famous figures of Brazilian history. It may highlight a special event or speak of anything that might move the spirit and imagination; like a special animal, or one of the elements; water or fire, etc. The school has to illustrate the chosen theme through all its work:

• the samba tunes, which are especially written for that year
• the richly decorated floats and costumes of their 3,000 to 5,000 parading members designed by the school’s Carnival Designer (the so called Carnavalesco).

The parade of every school is highly organized and designed. They line up in a unique way to present their pageant.

The costumes are extremely imaginative, colorful, elaborate and detailed. They are truly original, designed and made from scratch each year. They have mirrors, feathers, metallic cloth, silk and sometimes gems or coins. These costumes take months to make. The work starts roughly 8 months in advance.

You may think of the whole event as a tropical opera or rather like several operas happening on one night. It is beautiful to watch and the experience for the paraders themselves is so intense that the memories last for a lifetime.

Duration : 0:10:0

[youtube uYgvg5VXOuM]