Renata Santos, Queen of the drums of Mangueira - photo: Alexandre Durão/G1
This second article about the second night of parades of samba schools in the Special Group of Rio de Janeiro relates the parades of samba schools Mangueira, Unidos da Tijuca and Grande Rio.
With the opening float and the theme 'Sou Cacique, Sou Mangueira' the parade of Mangueira thrilled the audience in Sapucaí - photo: Vanderlei Almeida / AFP
Runner-up of 2011, Unidos da Tijuca led to the Avenue a tribute to composer Luiz Gonzaga, in its attempt to win the title. With the theme “O dia em que toda a realeza desembarcou na Avenida para coroar o Rei Luiz do Sertão” (The day that all the royal landed in the avenue to crown King Louis of the Wilderness), written by carnivalesque Paulo Barros, the yellow and blue from northern Rio celebrated and consecrated the Rei do Baião (the King of Grande Baiha) and Brazil’s northeast.
Highlights of the parade of Mangueira - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito/G1
A year after losing its shack in a fire in Cidade do Samba (Samba City) in the docklands of Rio, Acadêmicos da Grande Rio closed the parades of the Special Group with examples how to overcome a disastre. The tricolour thrilled the audiences with stories that have become icons in the world, like the ones of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, and the conductor and pianist João Carlos Martins.
4th – Mangueira
In the carnival this year, Mangueira showed that the Marquês de Sapucaí can also be the stage for the traditional street blocks. The green and pink celebrated the popular joy and fun of street carnival telling the story of the block Cacique de Ramos, who turned 50 years in 2011.
Highlights of the parade of Mangueira - photo: Christophe Simon / AFP
To win the 19th title of Carnival, Mangueira brought the storyline “Vou festejar! Sou Cacique, sou Mangueira” (I go celebrate! I am the Chief, I am Mangueira), developed by carnivalesque Cid Carvalho, who made his debut in the samba school. The carnival relived the atmosphere of street carnivals and popular festivals of the district Ramos in the north of Rio, the birthplace of the block, sponsored by the green and pink.
Dancer of Mangueira drew attention by using a micro-fantasy - photo: Christophe Simon / AFP
For the third consecutive year, the queen Renata Santos reigned supreme in front of the drums section commanded by Master Ailton. The master of ceremonies and the standard-bearer Raphael Rodrigues and Marcella Alves completed the team of Mangueira in search of the so desired championship.
Renata Santos, Queen of the drums of Mangueira - photo: Alexandre Durão/G1
Muse of the samba school Mangueira - photo: Christophe Simon / AFP
Scheila Carvalho paraded as one of the highlights of samba school Mangureira - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito/G1
Allegoric floats of samba school Mangueira - photo: Ricardo Moraes / Reuters
Queen Renata Santos, in front of the drum band of Mangueira - photo: Sergio Moraes / Reuters
Muse of Mangueira - photo: Antonio Scorza / AFP
Aerial view of the parade of Mangueira - photo: Victor R Caivano / AP
Scheila Carvalho paraded with the samba school Mangureira - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito/G1
Details of the fantasy used by a member of Mangueira - photo: Christophe Simon / AFP
Samba school Mangueira brought 'paradona' of the drum band as a novelty in the parade this year - photo: Alexandre Macieira / Riotur
Renata Santos, Queen of the drum of Mangueira, during the parade - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito/G1
5th – Unidos da Tijuca
After traveling through the history of film in 2011, Unidos da Tijuca made a new ride at the carnival this year, but this time, the places visited were the scenarios that served as inspiration for Luiz Gonzaga. Kings and queens invited the public to visit places like the San Francisco Valley to the sound of the accordion and the “bailão”.
Lifted high into the air by a crane, a member of Unidos da Tijuca represented the, by the parade honoured, Luiz Gonzaga - photo: Ricardo Moraes / Reuters
With the theme “O dia em que toda a realeza desembarcou na Avenida para coroar o Rei Luiz do Sertão” (The day that all the royalty landed in the avenue to crown King Luiz of the Wilderness), arranged by the carnivalesque Paulo Barros, yellow and blue of the North Zone of Rio celebrated and consecrated the King of Baião and north-eastern Brazil, his inspiration. Barros made a call to all the monarchs of the world to participate in this festival that ends with a Coronation in the Avenue.
Muse of Unidos da Tijuca dances the samba - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito/G1
One of the highlights this year was the drum band commanded by Master Casagrande. To pack the story about the King of Baião, the percussionists dared mixing the dance with the famous “paradinhas”. In front of the musicians came its Queen Gracyanne Barbosa, who made her debut. The samba school took 3,600 dancers, divided in 33 groups to the Avenue.
In the colour of clay, master of ceremonies and teh standard-bearer parade for the Unidos da Tijuca - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito/G1
Queen of the drums of Unidos da Tijuca, Gracyanne Barbosa dances the samba - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito/G1
The float of Unidos da Tijuca 'Do barro, se fez a vida' (From clay life is made) - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito/G1
Muse of the samba school Unidos da Tijuca sings the samba-enredo and forms a heart with her fingers - photo: Alexandre Durão/G1
Gracyanne Barbosa in the parade of Unidos da Tijuca - photo: Alexandre Durão/G1
Muse on top of a float of Unidos da Tijuca has a fantasy adorned with feathers - photo: Victor R - photo: Caivano / AP
Muses dance the samba on top of a float of Unidos da Tijuca visualising a vessel, with the theme 'O rio São Francisco vai bater no mei' do mar' (The river São Francisco will hit in mid-sea) - photo: Victor R Caivano / AP
Gracyanne Barbosa in the parade of Unidos da Tijuca. The 'Rei do Baião' (King of Baião), Luiz Gonzaga, is the theme of the samba school this year - photo: Alexandre Durão/G1
'Asa branca' (White Wing) was the last float of the parade of Unidos da Tijuca - photo: AFP
6th – Acadêmicos da Rio Grande
After losing everything last year in the fire in Cidade do Samba (Samba City), samba school Rio Grande made a comeback and talked about overcoming the disaster. The fire destroyed several sheds and Rio Grande was the most affected of all samba schools. Carnivalesque Cahê Rodrigues arranged the theme “Eu acredito em você! E você?” (I believe in you! And you?). Issues addressed survival through love, as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the victims of Haïti, the Jewish feeling and the apartheid with Nelson Mandela.
An animated Muse of Grande Rio, visualising the capricious bio and ox - photo: AFP
The school also visualised the overcome in sport. Paralympic athletes had a high profile and were honoured in the parade. Grand allegories with much luxury and technology. So was the parade of Rio Grande. As the samba school was already known for attracting many celebrities to the Avenue, this year it brought together a large number of people who have learned to overcome. The tricolour brought to the Avenue 3,800 dancers, divided in 32 groups.
Actress Mônica Carvalho also danced in the parade of Grande Rio - photo: Alexandre Durão/G1
Because of the fire, the Rio Grande did not dispute the title in 2011. This year, the samba school will be the last to parade. The Queen of the drums, commanded by Master Ciça, is actress Ana Furtado, and the couple master of ceremonies and standard-bearer Luiz Felipe and Squel.
Ex-BBB Maria paraded with Grande Rio - photo: Christophe Simon/AFP
Mirella Santos shined in Sapucaí - photo Alexander Durão/G1
Mayra Cardi danced in the parade of Grande Rio - photo: Christophe Simon / AFP
The float 'Derrubando gigantes' (Knocking down giants) highlighted the fighter Minotaur - photo: Victor R - photo: Caivano / AP
One of the highlights of Grande Rio dancing the samba down the avenue - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito / G1
The actress Susana Vieira, godmother of Rio Grande, paraded in Sapucaí - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito / G1
The float 'Anjos anunciam a luz que vem do céu' (Angels announce the light that comes from heaven) opened the parade of Rio Grande - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito / G1
Ana Hickmann paraded with Rio Grande. In São Paulo, she represented Vai-Vai - photo: Alexandre Durão/G1
Ana Furtado, godmother of the drums of Grande Rio - photo: Alexandre Durão/G1
Members on top of a float of Grande Rio, which brought the stories of overcoming in Sapucaí - photo: AFP
Member of Rio Grande dances the samba - photo: AFP
Actress Cristiane Torloni on top of the opening float 'Anjos anunciam a luz que vem do céu' (Angels announce the light that comes from heaven) - photo:' Rodrigo Gorosito / G1
Geovana Tominaga represented the Japanese delicacy in the parade of Grande Rio - photo: Christophe Simon / AFP
Luis Felipe and Squel Jorgea form the first couple of master of ceremonies and standard-bearer - photo: Rodrigo Gorosito / G1
The group 'Bailarina Negra' (Black Dancer) is a tribute to Mercedes Batista - photo: AFP
Muse of Grande Rio in Sapucaí on top of the float 'Derrubando gigantes' (Knocking down giants) - photo: AFP
Groups of Rio Grande devoted to names that represent the overcoming in sports. Lars Grael, Ronaldo Fenômeno and Clodoaldo Silva were among those honoured - photo: AFP
That was carnival 2012. I hope you enjoyed the photos. Back to normal life.
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