top of page

SAMBA LIFE

While in Rio, great friends open my eyes to the world of Samba and Carnival, they have let me into their Samba school "Grande Rio" and were kind enough to answer all my thousands questions about the school, the life, and "Pimpolhos", the nonprofit children Samba School. This post is my observation of their story.

(photo by "Carnaval Experience")

Before I arrived in Rio I thought Carnival is just a big party...

Well, Carnival is a big party, but it is so much more then that. But to understand Carnival we must first talk about Samba...

The story tells, Samba was born in Rio, by the slaves, just over a 100 years ago. Next by the salt rock, when the police were not watching, they were dancing all night, all trying to prove they are the best dancers.

With years Samba grew bigger, the dancers became teachers and Samba schools started to form.

To these days, these schools are competing against each other, in what we know as the great Carnival of Rio De Janeiro. But as I said, there's so much more to it..

Samba schools are the beating hearts of the neighborhoods. Apart from producing work and uniting a community around a common purpose, they give children a place to go after school, something they can be part of.

Kids grow up in the Samba schools, starting even at 5 years old, learning to dance for the kids Carnival. They get Samba lessons, Ballet and such, and the more they participate, the more benefits they can get, like English or SATs lessons ..

When they grow they continue as dancers in the Carnival or work producing it, you will often see mothers with their newborn babies around the mess of drums, dancers and design progress.

No one needs to pay in order to be part of a samba school, all it requires is to commit to a certain amount of meetings and rehearsals, so everyone can join.

Samba schools are like big families, community centers and team sports, all surrounding celebration and Carnival, which is what Carioca people are best at.

A great thanks to my friends Akiva and Camila for letting me into their world of Samba!

This post is just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more to say, to see and to understand about Samba schools and Carnival. I would highly recommend anyone who is in Rio to join a "Carnaval Experiance" tour to experience more of the Samba life.

(photo by "Carnaval Experience")

Pedra Do Sal, the birthplace of Samba.

A weekend concert at the Samba school "Grande Rio", all the community meet, eat and enjoy the show!

Samba city, off season.

Inside the hangar of "Grande Rio" the floats are waiting to be dismantled and rebuild for next Carnival.

Me having fun going over the Samba school wardrobe.

RECENT POSTS:
SEARCH BY TAGS:
No tags yet.
bottom of page