Carnaval carry on

Rio from Sugar Loaf Mountain (photo Miguel Buergo)

 



This time last year I was in Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval!

I have never, and probably will never experience anything like it.  It's an multi-sensory assault on your person that just keeps coming.   They don't call it the biggest show on earth for nothing.  This year it's Karla's turn to go crazy at Carnival, and knowing how much of a Brasilophile she is, she'll have been going hard on the Samba for the past month.  Can't wait to hear all of her tales when she gets back!

In Brazil Carnival isn't just something to do one bank holiday at the end of summer like it is here in London.  In the run up to Lent,  it's the one time of year when norms are turned on their head.   People from all corners of society collectively let out what seems like a long held breath, temporarily leaving stresses behind and embracing the spirit of fantasy, realisation of imagination and jubilation that is Carnaval.  Street parties, parades and general gatherings of all sizes attract the oldest and youngest to celebrate, dance and have fun.

Samba is at the heart of many communities in Brazil and Carnaval is the pinnacle of this.  Samba schools work throughout the year and invest hundreds if not thousands of hours and enough money to make your eyes water, into Carnaval. Each school can take thousands of their participants out on parade, giving their members the chance to publicly show their immense pride in the community that is their samba school.

The flag bearers of Rocinha samba school (Miguel Buergo)

Last weekend, Rio Samba schools paraded in the famous Marquis de Sapucai Sambadrome.  The annual event is judged and this year's results were announced on Wednesday. 2013's victors of Group Especiale, the top ranking group, are [*drum roll*]....Vila Isabel.  Tomorrow night they'll head up the Champions Parade in the Sambadrome, along with the other top 6 schools: Beija Flor, Tijuca, Imperatriz, Salgueiro and Grande Rio.  

Clara Paixao

So, before it's all over for another year I had to feature this stunning woman, Clara Paixao from Beija Flor samba school. I'll level with you, I'm a lil' bit obsessed.  This woman is gorgeous, a great dancer AND the proud owner of a lovely head of Natural hair.  Clara has talked about how she has received negative comments for not wearing weaves or straightening her hair, the default for many women samba dancers in Brazil, and how she's chosen to embrace her natural hair because she sees it as an important part of being a mulata .  This insightful article from Black Women of Brazil tries to define what a mulata is.

In November, Clara came second runner up (Princessa) in the 2013 Rainha do Carnaval (Queen of Carnival) competition. It's a prestigious contest. The winner was Evelyn Bastos from Mangueira, an equally stunning and phenomenal dancer and only 18 years old at the time!  Check her out too, I could be wrong but I think she also has natural hair.  This summer I'll hopefully get the opportunity to see both Clara and Evelyn in flesh, when I go to Coburg International Samba festival in Germany. Til then I'll try to keep my stalking to a minimum!

Here's a video of Clara's routine and her being crowned 2nd Princessa, loving her tiara topped fro at the end.

Kanika x

p.s. I'm pretty sure you can watch the Champions parade live online tomorrow. If I find the right link I'll update the post with it before tomorrow night.