And the winner is
And the winning samba school for Carnival 2012 in Rio de Janeiro is Unidos da Tijuca that had taken as its theme the late Brazilian singer-songwriter and poet, Luiz Gonzaga.
Gonzaga’s most famous song is “Asa Branca”, an absolute Brazilian classic that has been covered by many Brazilian singers, but none better or more authentic than by the man himself. Even David Byrne has recorded an English language version.
From the city of Recife in northeast of Brazil, Gonzaga was known as the “king of baião”, and was a master of the accordion.
Unidos da Tijuca scored 299.9 points from the official carnival jury with Salgueiro in second with 299.7, and Vila Isabel in third with 299.5. Uniao da Ilha, that had London as its theme, came eighth.
Unidos da Tijuca, under carnavlesco Paulo Barros, also won the title in 2010, but previous to that its only other title had been way back in 1936.
And the relegated schools this year, which won’t be in the top group in 2013, are Porto de Pedra and Renascer de Jacarepaguá.
See you next year!
Chris Pickard
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London - Rio Carnival Connection
As Carnival comes to a close for another year, check out who's flying the flag for the UK.
The Uniao da Ilha samba school chose as its carnival theme this year to show the links between Rio de Janeiro and London, the next two Olympic host cities.
The school certainly had its own interpretation of the British look!
Chris Pickard
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When is a school not a school?
All there is to know about Carnival from our man in the know.
Despite the name, a Samba School is not an actual school. A samba school's official title is a "recreational guild". In many ways a samba school is quite similar to the British working men's clubs.
Samba schools are mainly based in and around the poor areas of housing in Rio de Janeiro, where the local community uses the school's headquarters as the hub for its social activities. As well as samba shows, it will offer other forms of entertainment during the year and will have a bar and restaurant, and might even have a school attached or a creche and sports club.
Just as everyone in Brazil has a favourite football team that they support, Brazilians will also have a favourite samba school that they will follow passionately and support. And just with football, there are various divisions within the world of Rio's samba schools and each year some will be promoted and some will be relegated.
The top division (Grupo Especial) parades on the Sunday and Monday nights of carnival at Rio's Sambódromo. In a normal year, six school will parade each night, but due to a fire at one of the schools in 2011, 13 schools will take part in the top division in 2012 with two to be relegated to the second division in 2013, with only the winner of the Grupo de Acesso to be promoted.
The order of the main samba school parades for 2012 is:
Sunday 19 February from 21.00
Renascer de Jacarepaguá
Portela
Imperatriz Leopoldinense
Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel
Porto da Pedra,
Beija-Flor de Nilópolis
Unidos de Vila Isabel
Monday 20 February from 21.00
São Clemente
União da Ilha
Acadêmicos do Salgueiro
Estação Primeira de Mangueira
Unidos da Tijuca
Grande Rio.
The winner in 2011 was Beija-Flor, with Unidos da Tijuca in second and Mangueira in third.
Every school tells a story, and every school has a theme. Among the top Rio samba schools one of the most notable in 2012 will be União da Ilha that is looking at the relationship between London and Rio with a samba that begins "Once upon a time..."
Imperatriz will look at the state of Bahia and the writer Jorge Amado; Mocidade is inspired in 2012 by the works of the painter Candido Portinari; Renascer de Jacarepaguá by the sculptor and artist Romero Britto; São Clemente promises a "musical adventure", while Angola is the source of inspiration for Vila Isabel. Unidos da Tijuca spotlights the life of musician Luiz Gonzaga; Mangueira is celebrating 50 years of its carnival bloco, Cacique de Ramos; Salgueiro looks at the popular literature of Cordel; and Grande Rio looks back at the fire that nearly destroyed the school last year.
Last year's winning school, Beija-Flor de Nilópolis, has taken the legends and folklore of São Luís and the state of Maranhão as the inspiration for the theme of its samba this year.
Chris Pickard
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A New Look for the Rio Parades
More on this year's Carnival from our man in the know!
This year Rio's leading samba schools will parade down a brand new and bigger Passarela do Samba, or Sambódromo, as it is better and affectionately known in Rio.
The Sambódromo was designed in 1984 by the legendary Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer, now aged 104, and has been modernised and expanded between last year's and this year's carnival, and after the demolition of the Brahma brewery that lined one side. With an extra 12,500 seats, the "new" passarela can now accommodate close to 80,000 spectators. Nearly the same number of people that will parade with the main samba schools over the Sunday and Monday nights of carnival.
Since its opening in 1984, the Sambódromo, parts of which act as a school during the year, has hosted many other events besides the carnival parades, most notably a series of music shows and concerts. The Sambódromo will be now be used as an Olympic venue when Rio de Janeiro hosts the 2016 Olympics, acting as the venue for the archery and for the end of the marathon. It is a truly iconic setting.
For the statistically minded, the length of the Sambódromo is 1700 meters or 1860 yards, the schools, however, will officially parade over 540 meters (1,700 feet) of the avenue, taking about 80 minutes to each complete their parade.
Chris Pickard
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JLo heads to Rio for Carnival
Read the latest news and gossip from Rio from our man in the know!
Brahma beer has chosen Jennifer Lopez as its international muse for carnival 2012.
Not only will JLo be in Brahma's VIP box to watch the main carnival parades in Rio de Janeiro on 19 and 20 February, but she has also recorded a number of carnival themed TV ads for the brewery that are currently being broadcast across Brazil as the country counts down to the celebrations.
In one of the ads, JLo shows off her prowess for capoeira, the traditional Brazilian martial art and dance, while in another she is shown learning samba and Portuguese in preparation for her trip to Rio.
Last year international guests in the Brahma box included Jude Law, Will.I.Am, and Pamela Anderson, while in 2010 Madonna was the international guest of honour. Look out for photos of JLo in Rio in the British press.
Traditionally the invitation for Brahma's box, and other carnival activities in Rio, is a special t-shirt. No t-shirt, means no entry, and it doesn't matter how famous you are. But if you don't have the t-shirt, and can't get to Rio to join JLo for carnival, you can still enjoy the carnival spirit and a cold bottle of Brahma, by dropping in at you nearest Las Iguanas between now and 26 February.
Chris Pickard
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RIO CARNIVAL FUN AT LAS IGUANAS
Rio Carnival is the world’s biggest party and this year it’s all happening from 17 to 21 February.
We kick off our own Carnival celebrations on 11th February and in the name of a good party we’re celebrating until 26th February. You’ll find lots of things happening across the country. Check with your local branch which promotions they are taking part in.
• FOODIES LOVE FEIJOADA! Mardi Gras Foodie Nights at selected branches on Tuesday 21st February. Book now to try our special menu and enjoy a complimentary Caipirinha
• BANANAS FOR BRAZIL! Four bottles of Brahma beer or a bottle of Brazilian punch to share for just £10
• BRING A BRAZILIAN! It’s back. Giveaway caipirinhas to our Brazilian brothers and sisters. Not a national? Then dress up! First come first served.
• CARNIVAL CRAFTS for kids. Mask making, colouring competitions and kids eat free* during half term week.
And keep an eye on twitter and facebook for even more fun and look out for our news and photos direct from Rio.
*Terms and conditions apply for all offers and competitions which run 11-26 February unless stated otherwise. Kids Eat Free when each child is accompanied by an adult ordering an a la carte main course; not available at Newcastle, or at The O2 11/12 February or Cardiff Mill Lane 11 February. Offers and events at selected locations only- please check with your local branch.
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