The escolas de samba

The first escolas de samba were founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1928 (the short-lived Deixa Falar) and in 1929 (Estação Primeira de Mangueira). These were neighborhood groups of blacks and mulattos who wanted to make music and parade during carnaval. The name school apparently has to do with the fact that there was a real school nearby. Some sambistas say that it was chosen because they "taught samba" like a school teaches other subjects...

The first escola de samba left as its legacy the introduction of the very large beat-marking drums. In 1935 this parade was officially recognized by the government. In the same year a group of sambistas (samba composers) founded Portela, the most innovative of the original group of escolas. It introduced themes, floats, the comissão de frente (front commission, usually the most honorable personalities of the escola) and the separation of the public from the parading dancers.

In the last few decades, the parade has become the greatest attraction of carnaval in Brazil and decidedly luxurious and gigantic. Some schools parade with over 4,000 participants and more than 300 percussionists. Every school has a theme and a samba (called the samba-enredo, or theme song) and is divided in alas or units with huge decorated floats in between. The most important individuals are the porta-bandeira (female flag-bearer) and the mestre-sala (the male master of ceremonies, who accompanies her). The puxador de samba or main singer stands on the sound float and sings the theme song while his/her school parades, usually for about 90 minutes.