Carnival. Carnaval. Samba School Rehearsals in Rio.

Samba Schools are associations or social clubs,

 each one for a neighborhood of Rio.

  They work sometimes all year long

 for the presentation at Sambódromo,

  in the annual Samba Parade, during Carnival.

Just before Carnival, they hold samba rehearsals,

 open to anyone and are one

 of the best entertainments of Summer.

 Playing their samba song of the year
 the whole night through,

 they practice the lyrics,
so there won't be any
mistakes during the presentation.

All of them have a flag,
 a color-scheme and devoted fans.

 They are like corporate organizations,

 with supporters, trained crew, strategic

 partnerships and modern marketing.

All this is shown for you at

Desfile das Escolas de Samba,

our Samba Parade during Carnival.

Information From Rio Official Guide:

"The traditional samba technical rehearsals are

 at Marquês de Sapucaí Avenue,

 newly renovated and a lot more spacious.

 This is the perfect opportunity

 to get to know all samba schools

 and pick your favorite for this year’s title.

  For those who have never had the chance

 to watch  a samba parade,

 this event is a must!

 Witness the grandeur of a samba school parading

 before your eyes,

 feel the vibration of the drums

 and the charm of the samba dancers.

 Rehearsals are in January all through to February,

 until the week before Carnival."

Free or a small fee entrance.

Sunday, January 8th

7pm – Baianas wash the floor

 (traditional Carnival welcoming ceremony)

8pm – Meeting of the drums

 (several samba schools present their drum sections)

10pm – Beija-Flor de Nilópolis

Friday, January 13th

8pm – Império Serrano

10pm – União da Ilha

Saturday, January 14th

7pm – Paraíso do Tuiuti

8pm – Acadêmicos da Rocinha

10pm – Portela

Sunday, January 15th

7pm – Renascer de Jacarepaguá

8pm – Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel

10pm – Unidos daTijuca

Saturday, January 21st

8pm – Inocentes de Belford Roxo

10pm – Porto da Pedra

Sunday, January 22nd

7pm – Santa Cruz

8pm – Grande Rio

10pm – Vila Isabel

Friday, January 27th

8pm – Cubango

10pm – Império da Tijuca

Saturday, January  28th

8pm – Estácio de Sá

10 pm – Imperatriz Leopoldinense

Sunday, January  29th

7pm – Viradouro

8pm – União da Ilha

10 pm – Salgueiro

Friday, February 3rd

8pm – Unidos de Vila Isabel

Saturday, February 4th

7pm – Renascer de Jacarepaguá

8pm – São Clemente

10pm  – Porto da Pedra

Sunday, February 5th

8pm – Mangueira

10pm – Unidos da Tijuca

Friday, February 10th

8pm – Mocidade

10pm – Salgueiro

Saturday, February  11th

8pm – Portela

10 pm – Imperatriz Leopoldinense

Sunday, February  12th

Light and sound tests

10pm – Beija-Flor de Nilópolis

foto Claudio Lara