Carnival: Rio's Sambadrome to welcome first samba schools
The parades at the sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro are set to be opened this Friday(Feb.24). 
The parades at the sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro are set to be opened this Friday (Feb. 24) with the first seven samba schools in the A Series, also known as Access Group. Traditional schools featured in this section include Unidos de Viradouro and Estácio de Sá—both downgraded last year from the Special Group, where the top-ranking schools are grouped.
The show continues on Saturday, until all 14 schools in the group have paraded the Marquês de Sapucaí, where the Special Group is due to put on their spectacle, the crowd-gathering high point of Rio's Carnival.
As is the case with the Special Group, the schools in the Access Group come to the sambadrome with a diversified selection of theme songs. This year tributes are paid to great names in children's literature, actors, singers, composers, and even a Catholic saint.
Singer Beth Carvalho is honored by Alegria da Zona Sul, which brings together the Cantagalo and Pavão Pavãozinho favelas in Southern Rio. Beth Carvalhos is hailed as the “mother of Samba,” and known for the support she offers new songwriters and samba artists.
Todo menino é rei (“every kid is a king”) is the theme song of Unidos de Viradouro. The school is taking to the sambadrome a number of child-related topics, like dreaming and children's rights. The show is expected to offer a tour through games and goodies from the universe of kids.
Children's literature is the theme chosen by Acadêmicos de Santa Cruz. Brazilian authors will be seen meeting Lews Carrol and Hands Christian Andersen as the lyrics talk about the awakening of imagination.
A Catholic saint is expected to make an appearance in a party considered pagan in its origin: Imperio da Tijuca is slated to start its show in the first minutes of Saturday (25), paying a tribute to Saint John the Baptist, Jesus's cousin. His connection with Xangô, an orixá in Afro-Brazilian religions, will not be forgotten.
The Special Group is to stage its parade Sunday (25) and Monday (27), also starting at 10 pm, local time.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Carnival: Rio's Sambadrome to welcome first samba schools
