It’s no secret and the whole world knows that Unidos da Tijuca has won the 2010 Rio de Janeiro Samba School competition held every year at the Sambodromo. It is the first time that Unidos da Tijuca has won in 73 years. You can imagine the emotion running through the community that makes up this samba school. A friend of mine who went to the celebration party told me that everyone was crying with emotion.

While I wasn’t able to get to the Sambodromo for the actual competion of  the schools in the Special Group, I was able to get some tickets for the Parade of Champions last Saturday. I arrived at the parade route with Toronto local and samba dancer supreme Jessica de Cruz Semedo. We went to find our section. After walking around the complex for what seemed like hours we finally got to our seats. A section just off the parade route and further back near the end!! Ok I guess for 25 reals I should have figured we wouldn’t have the best seats.

This was our vantage point (chuckle), it was around midnight and about 33ºC

I was however, in no way disappointed by the spectacle! We got to see some of the most incredible samba schools. The schools parading: Mangueira, Salgueiro (last year’s winner) and Vila Isabel.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Unidos da Tijuca but I got a lot of visuals on tv and from the newspaper about them. I dug up as much as I could for you guys. The carnavalesco, or carnival designer Paulo Barros came up with the concepts for the floats and costumes that made up this incredible parade. The theme for their school was the “great secret.” And all the imagery, and floats somehow tried to show different facets of mystery and secrets, including magic, the underworld, and fantasy.

There was a giant float representing the mythical great library in Alexandria, Egypt. Its wondrous gold colour and brilliant effects using glitter and wind machines made it look as if it was on fire. What really stole the show however, was the opening set of their parade, the Comissão de Frente, or the opening act so to speak, check this youtube video.

My personal favorite was Salgueiro because their song or enredo (as samba school songs are known) was so catchy. Their theme was Historia Sem fim or “The Never Ending Story” Their front line was also stunning: Medieval scribes with golden fans engaged in a brilliant and stunning choreography.

Detail from "the never ending story" Hindu themed float of Salgueiro

Halley's Comet, the theme of Vila Isabel (wicked float)

The Judgment:

Judges take note of various aspects of the parade closely watch each samba school.

The floats and accessories:  The floats have to be creative and well finished. People dancing on the floats and their costumes are also important.

The Bateria or Drum Corps: The cadence of the drums is really important. The groove of their samba, how tight they sound, and the originality of their breaks in the samba form is also taken into consideration. Mangueira’s Bateria was gigantic and soooo tight. They were dressed as prisoners and were surrounded by jail bars that would disappear when the chorus came in.

The Comissâo da Frente or the Front Line: This presents the school to the public and gives us our first impression. Unidos da Tijuca had the magic act in their front line. Vila Isabel had old school samba guitarists with automated “magic guitars.”

Front Line of Vila Isabel

The Conjunto or the Whole: The unity of the ideas, costumes and dance… important!

The Enredo or Song: The theme of the enredo has to follow the theme for that school and have melodic elements to match the emotion that is being emitted. Does it follow the flow of the floats and the costumes. Is the performance well executed? Are the words of the song poetic? The enredo is closely listened to. Pamphlets with the lyrics are distributed in the sambodromo and the people sing along in this glorious Church of Samba!

Evolution: Does the parade flow well between the costumes, floats and bateria?

Costumes: Creativity is key here, but so is taste. “Taste” is based on what are established patterns and a lot of opinion.

Harmony: This category used to be difficult because in the old days, before the modern sound system, the drummers and the singers used to get into musical conflict. Now, with everyone hearing each other better there is usually great harmony between the rhythm and the melody of the song.

Mestre Sala and Porta Bandeira: They are the first characters on the parade route. The lady (the Flag Bearer) wearing a beautiful gown, spins while holding the school’s flag, and the man, in his regal attire, (the Master of the Hall) accompanies her samba-ing his heart out. Both have huge smiles. I was at the end of the route but the Mestre Sala and Porta Bandeira of Vila Isabel made a point of coming over to our section (the poor man’s section) and dancing for us to the cheers and cheers of everyone!! The emotion waqs enough for my heart to race and some tears swell up in my eyes.

Mestre Sala and Porta Bandeira of Vila Isabel dancing for us

Samba Jess and yours truly at the end of the parade route

A night full of emotion and splendor! Next year I’ll be sure to better plan and get tickets for the middle of the parade route. If you can have so much emotion so far back for the route imagine being right next to it!!

Alex Bordokas

check great carnival pictures from Rio and from around the world.