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 At the heart and soul of Rio Carnival are the Samba Schools—the groups of community members from Rio de Janeiro who come together to create the epic spectacles of the Rio Carnival Parade (or Rio Samba Parade) each year. The groups are formed of men, women, and children, regardless of social status, who join together to create all the elements of their school’s Samba Parade, including writing the school’s unique samba theme song.
Every Samba School has its own dancers and musicians, as well as choreographers and costume/float designers. With all of their members’ talents combined, they create an all-original performance for the Rio Samba Parade. Although parade competition is stiff, the schools still have a lot of camaraderie and everyone is full of enthusiasm for Brazil Carnival.
>> FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE RIO SAMBA PARADE
>> PARADE ORDER AND TIME-TABLE – RIO CARNIVAL 2013
Background of the Samba Schools
The Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro are associations or social clubs that are linked to certain neighborhoods of Rio. While they perform in the annual Rio Samba Parade, they are not, in fact, schools that teach samba, as the name suggests.
The Rio Samba Schools are in many ways comparable to a large, local sports team. For example, each school has a flag, some kind of color scheme, and incredibly devoted fans. They also resemble corporate organizations, in some ways, with multiple departments, divisions, partnerships, and importantly, large marketing campaigns. They often have their own fan clubs and official headquarters, and they often host workshops in Samba City as well as open rehearsals in samba halls. There, members meet and get ready for the next year’s Carnival—or sometimes they just dance the night away.
Samba Schools usually exist in two distinct locations:
- Samba halls, which are similar to giant dance clubs and are open to all kinds of people of all ages, where the Samba Schools’ percussion bands play live music. This is also where all of the Schools’ administrative work is done and where the president works.
- Production units, where the Samba Schools create and construct the floats and costumes. Starting in 2005, the main Rio Samba Schools in the Special Group maintain their production units in Samba City in Rio, which is open to visitors.
Samba Schools create a feeling of belonging among the neighborhoods where they originate, and the schools often have an immense effect on their communities. Often coming out of favelas, or the city’s shantytowns, the schools are incredibly organized, with thousands of people taking part in the schools’ preparations for Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, including joining in rehearsals and going to the samba halls. Many times the Samba Schools also take part in political involvement.
While the Samba Schools aren’t dance institutes, visitors are welcome to go to their samba nights and learn to samba from those around them.
Rio Samba School Leagues and Rankings
More than 70 Samba Schools are currently an active part of Rio’s culture, with all of them creating a unique parade performance each year for Carnival of Rio de Janeiro. The schools have a strict structure in relation to one another, and the schools are divided into six competitive, hierarchical leagues. These leagues include: the Special Group and Groups A (Access Group), B (Base Group), C, D, and E. Only the first three leagues can parade in the Sambodromo, with the rest parading on the streets of downtown Rio. The largest and highest ranked 12 schools are in the Special Group. With about 3,000 to 5,000 people, they provide extravagant performances in the Rio Samba Parade, which is staged on Carnival Sunday and Monday.
Every year, the school in the Special Group with the lowest score is downgraded to Group A (the Access Group). Similarly, the highest scoring school from the Access Group is upgraded to the Special Group. The Access Group is made of ten schools and also has the opportunity to parade in the Sambodromo on Carnival Saturday.
Group B (the Base Group) consists of the lowest ranked schools, and they parade in the Sambodromo as well, fighting to make their way up to the higher ranked leagues. Group B tends to have smaller membership and more modest performances. These schools tend to have about 1,500 participants in the parades.
Samba Nights
If you’re looking for a good way to get into some real samba, you should check out one of the Samba School’s samba halls. They offer regular samba nights (as they rehearse for the Rio Samba Parade) at the halls, and the rehearsals are open to the public. Samba nights are not formal but are like a big dance club for people of all ages, with dancing and drinks a plenty. Samba nights are an experience to come into contact with local culture and are a unique experience that should not be missed!
Three of the best known samba halls are a reasonable distance from the South End (Zona Sul) by taxi: Mangueira, Unidos da Tijuca, and Salgueiro. Some samba halls are a further trek away, in the suburbs, but we don’t recommend venturing too far unless you really know how to get around.
Mangueira is probably the largest, most secure, and most well-known hall, and there are a lot of tourists who visit it every year. It also has extensive security. Remember basic safety if you go the samba hall—some are in quite impoverished areas, so we recommend that you don’t wear anything too flashy or show off any valuables. But we definitely think you should visit a samba hall for a night on the town!
As with situations throughout Brazil, the samba nights often start much later than the advertised time—often even after midnight. We recommend going by cab and trying to get there after 11:30 p.m. There are also usually many taxis waiting outside for when the tired dancers make their way home. Typically, admission to the halls R$15.00 to R$40.00 (around US $20
There is usually an entrance fee of between R$15.00 and R$40.00 (approx. US$20).
The Best Samba Schools of Rio Carnival
BEIJA-FLOR
Pracinha Wallace Paes Leme 1025 – Nilópolis
Samba nights: Thursdays 9:00 p.m.
Colors: Blue and white
Est. 1948
The meaning of “Beija flor” is “hummingbird.” Hummingbirds are not only ever-present but also quite well loved in the Rio area. This school is in an area of Rio called Nilópolis, on the outskirts of the city. Among the Rio Samba Schools, Beija-Flor is currently ranked number one. The school has garnered such a great reputation through amazing and unmatched artistry and organization as well as fierce determination. While most schools only have one Carnival Designer, who is in charge of designing all the costumes and floats, Beija-Flor is the one school that has a full team of them (5 designers in total). It applies strict rules and great expectations on all of its members. Although this school didn’t win in Rio Carnival 2012, it has won repeatedly over the last fifteen years, beginning in 1998 and continuing in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2011. In the last few years, even if the school didn’t win, it came very close. The school is most known for its immense creativity and its use of intense colors.
GRANDE RIO
Colégio São José, Av. Presidente Kennedy – Duque de Caxias
Samba nights: Fridays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Red, green, and white
Est. 1988
One of newest schools, Grande Rio has been incredibly successful within the Special Group and has almost won in each of the previous 10 years of competition. Currently, it’s ranked second among all Rio Samba Schools. The Grande Rio Samba School comes from Caxais, a town on the edge of Rio de Janeiro.
IMPERATRIZ LEOPOLDINENSE
Rua Professor Lacê 235 – Ramos
Samba nights: Sundays 8:00 p.m.
Colors: Green, white and gold
Est. 1959
Imperatriz was most highly ranked at in the early 2000s. It won the Samba Parade competition for three consecutive years in 1999, 2000, and 2001. This record is only challenged by the current top-ranking school, Beija-Flor. Imperatriz is known for the merit of its technically excellent performances. The School’s Carnival Designer, Rosa Magalhães, who been with the school for a long time, is known for her whimsical, fairytale-styled designs.
MANGUEIRA
Rua Visconde de Niterói 1072 – Mangueira
Samba nights: Saturdays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Green and pink
Est. 1928
Because of its long history, strong group of supporters, and thriving samba hall, Manguiera is the most popular Samba School in Brazil. It won the first Samba Parade held in the Sambodromo, and it scored well every year since. Established in 1928, Mangueira is the oldest of all existing Rio Samba Schools.
MOCIDADE
Rua Coronel Tamarindo 38 – Padre Miguel
Samba nights: Saturdays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Green and white
Est. 1955
With a history of over 50 years, Mocidade is one of the oldest Samba Schools in Rio. It’s mostly known for the futuristic designs created by its members, including having the only flying parader ever featured on Samba Avenue. Like several other older schools, Mocidade stays in the Special Group largely because of its extensive history.
PORTELA
Rua Clara Nunes 81 – Madureira
Samba nights: Wednesdays 8:00 p.m., Fridays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Blue and white
Est. 1923
Although its name has changed several times in the past, Portela is one of the oldest schools in the Rio Samba Parade history. However, despite these name changes, its symbol, the eagle, has remained the same. Many consider Portela the oldest Rio samba group—but not the oldest school. Samba School Portela was one of the highest ranking schools for a long time, holding the record for most wins (21 times). Although it has lost some of its shine since the 1980s, it has remained in the Special Group, mostly because of its significant history and renown. Yet, in the last several year, Portela has been making a comeback and a spark of the original glory can be seen again.
PORTO DA PEDRA
Rua Lúcio Tomé Feteira 290, Vila Lage – São Gonçalo
Samba nights: Wednesdays 8:00 p.m.
Colors: Red and white
Est. 1978
Initially part of a soccer club that was created by a teen street gang, Porto da Pedra is a newcomer in the Rio Samba Parade, especially in regards to the Special Group (which it joined in 1995). It gained this success mainly because of the large investments of sponsors, which bought some highly renowned Carnival Designers from other Samba Schools. Porto da Pedra comes from the suburbs of Niteroi, a town located across the bay from Rio de Janeiro.
RENASCER DE JACARAPAGUA
Av. Nelson Cardoso 82 – Largo do Tanque – Jacarepaguá
Samba nights: Tuesdays 8:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Green, red and white
Est. 1992
Renascer de Jacarepagua (the Rebirth of Jacarepagua) was named as such because the founders wanted to recreate the essence of Rio Carnival (a Samba School) in the district of Jacarepagua. This Samba School is was borne out of the district’s street band. Renascer de Jacarepagua has only been moving upward since its founding, rising to the Access Group in 2005 and becoming the champion of the Access Group in 2011. It will be joining the Special Group for the first time in the 2013 Samba Parade.
SALGUEIRO
Rua Silva Teles 104 – Tijuca
Samba nights: Saturdays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Red and white
Est. 1953
Salgueiro was the champion of the 2009 Rio Samba Parade. Though it currently has a largely middle-class fan club, Salgueiro was one of the first Samba Schools that featured the achievements of Afro-Brazilians. It garnered fame in the 1960s for its amazing choreography and unbeatable performers. Its samba hall is very popular and is near the city center. In its parades, this Samba School usually uses “fire,” as its the symbol of Salgueiro.
SAO CLEMENTE
Av. Presidente Vargas 3102 – Centro
Samba nights: Tuesdays 8:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Yellow and black
Est. 1961
Sao Clemente is known for its satirical attitude and samba themes that refer to social issues in Brazil. For instance, in 1984 Sao Clemente’s theme was “Don’t run, don’t kill, don’t die: the devil is free in the streets,” pointing to the high rate of violence in Rio de Janeiro at the time. The next year, Sao Clemente presented an irreverent satire of Brazil’s housing shortage with the samba “Let’s abide in a house!” Two years after that in 1987, the school brought even more innovation to the Rio Samba Parade, including street children in its Vanguard Group while advancing the theme of “Tarmac Skippers,” which brought Rio’s street children to the audience’s attention.
UNIAO DA ILHA
Estrada do Galeão 322 – Ilha do Governador
Samba nights: Tuesdays 8:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Blue, red and white
Est. 1953
Like Sao Clemente, Samba School Uniao da Ilha is also known for its irreverence. The school was founded after some friends saw their island’s street bands and smaller samba schools. They determined that Ilha do Governador, their island, should have an official Samba School in the Rio Samba Parade. For a long time, Samba School Uniao da Ilha was one of the second- or third-tier Samba Schools, but it finally came to the Access Group in 1974. By 1975 it was able to participate in the Special Group. Since then, the school has created a number of excellent parades and has become a very well-liked Samba School among the Special Group. Its parades known for being full of cheer and vibrancy. The costumes are typically light, free of weighty metals and other such props. While it’s not been the Champion of the Special Group, it has created a number of cherished samba songs that continue to be played now, including “Sunday” (1977), “Good, Nice, and Even Cheap” (1980), and “Is Today Really the Day?” (1982), which is one of the most popular Samba School song in the history of Brazil Carnival Rio.
UNIDOS DA TIJUCA
Clube dos Portuários, Av. Francisco Bicalho 47 – São Cristóvão
Samba nights: Fridays and Saturdays 8:00 p.m.
Colors: Yellow and blue
Est. 1931
The third oldest Rio Samba Shoo, Unidos da Tijuca became known in the early 2000s for its innovative artistry and controversial stylings. It tends to present parades that focus on Brazil’s history as a Portuguese colony. Known for its ingenuity and risk-taking, this Samba School has a samba hall that is both popular and accessibly and that also brings in many from the gay community.
VILA ISABEL
Av. 28 de Setembro 382 – Vila Isabel
Samba nights: Tuesdays 8:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:00 p.m.
Colors: Blue and white
Est. 1946
As one of the older schools in the Rio Samba Parade, Samba School Vila Isabel has a vibrant history full of tradition. It almost disappeared toward the end of the 20th century and only recently reentered the Special Group in 1995 with surprising success. Its reputation has only increased since then, especially after hiring an innovative rising star among the Carnival Designers in 2996. In the last few years, Vila Isabel has continued to score well and now hold the third highest rank among all Rio Samba Schools. The school also has a samba hall that is often visited and easy to get to.
Samba School History
While Carnival has long been a part of the cultural and social fabric of Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, Samba Schools only entered the Brazil Carnival scene in the 1920s.
In the late 1800s, residents from Bahia state immigrated to Rio de Janeiro, taking with them the traditions of candomble (an Afro-Brazilian religion) and a Bahian dance that would become known as samba. Soon in downtown Rio de Janeiro’s “Little Africa,” these immigrants opened numerous religious institutions where they conducted ceremonies and danced the oldest version of the samba.
Yet, at that time, Brazil was dominated by Catholicism and African religions were prohibited. Thus, for a great while, samba’s ancestor, as danced by the Bahian immigrants, was unknown to the white elite.
Samba came to the forefront, however, within the first quarter of the 1900s. The first Samba School was called Deixa Falar and started in 1928. This school came from the Estácio district, which is known as the cradle of samba. The decided to call themselves “Samba School” since they met adjacent to a children’s school.
Mangueira, now the oldest remaining Samba School, was founded soon after Deixa Falar, in 1928. Later, Deixa Falar disappeared from the scene only to be restarted as Estácio de Sá.
Deixa Falar first paraded for Carnival in 1929, and by 1930 four other Samba Schools had joined them. The Samba Schools’ Parade soon became a contest, and Deixa Falar was the champion in 1930 and 1931. Nineteen Samba Schools competed in 1932, and in 1933 the parade was sponsored by “O Globo,” the largest media group in Brazil. At this point, parade organizers made a list of four criteria for judging the parades.
More recently, Samba Schools have chosen to parade down Rio Branco (Rio de Janeiro’s main financial street) during the weekend of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. There are also parades in practically every corner of the city during Brazil Carnival—as well as in cities and towns across the country. During Brazil Carnival Rio, streets are filled from edge to edge with celebrants—some in costume, some with instruments, some just enjoying the flavor of the city. Celebrations last all day, from afternoon until the early hours of the next morning. Whether watching an official parade or joining in the dancing around the numerous street bands, visitors are sure to catch the flavor of Brazil Carnival Rio’s exuberant celebrations.
Get ready for Rio Carnival 2013! Find out more about the Samba Parade, the Sambodromo, Rio Carnival tickets, accommodations, and flights to Brazil !
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