It may be cold and snowy in the United States right now, but things are sizzling in other parts of the world (and I don’t mean Vancouver, where they are having problems with rain, snowmelt, and the winter Olympics.) The Carnival party in Rio is reaching full swing and this week’s heat wave doesn’t seem to be slowing anybody down. Vacationers have descended on this Brazilian city in droves, where tourism officials estimate that 700,000 people are filling Rio de Janeiro hotels, sunning on the beach, and dancing in the streets.
The highest February temperatures in almost fifty years haven’t stopped the non-stop revelry that Rio’s Carnival season represents. Famous Americans who have escaped the frigid temps to visit Brazil include Madonna, Paris Hilton, and Gerard Butler, who have all joined in the fun. Here are some of the things they, and anyone else who heads to Rio for Carnival, should not miss:
Samba Parades: These parades are actually a high pressure competition amongst the best dance troupes, known as Samba Schools, in Brazil. The top twelve groups in the country dance for hours over the course of two nights (and well into the morning.) The first six groups performed last night, and the second six will perform tonight. Eighty thousand people watch the competition live in the Sambodromo, a special samba stadium, while millions stay up all night to follow the spectacle on television.
Each school, or troupe, has about 4,000 dancers, each elaborately and some scantily costumed. There are also floats, singers, and musicians. The judges rank the schools in a number of categories – costumes, theme, flow, the quality of the music, the quality of the dancing – to pick each year’s winning school.
Blocos: These block parties/parades are much more informal than those of the Samba Schools. People participating generally don matching t-shirts (if that) and parade down city streets. Most blocos are organized around specific neighborhoods. This year there are reported to be 650 bloco parties over the course of Carnival, most of which involve lots of beer and little inhibition.
Balls: In addition to the Samba parades and the revelry in the streets, Carnival balls are another Rio traditions. These balls, held in many of the swankiest hotels and clubs in town, feature live samba music and lots of dancing. Some, like the traditional Gala held at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, are luxury black-tie affairs. Others are less formal parties where over-the-top costumes with plenty of feathers are the norm. Many of these balls have become so famous that they are televised.
Beaches: The beaches of Rio are the pulsing heart of the city and that doesn’t change just because Carnival is in town. Although attention turns to the streets during parades, the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon are thriving scenes in their own right. People workout, play volleyball and soccer, eat, sleep, tan, and flirt on Rio’s beaches both night and day. And they dance…they always dance.
Oh Mr. Butler, such a guy