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Tens of thousands of revelers enjoyed the peak of Rio de Janeiro's Carnaval inside of and out of the famous Sambodromo where Samba schools paraded their floats and costumes.
Photo: AP
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Even with celebrations going on across Brazil, most of the country's eyes were focused on Rio's Sambódromo, where the first night of parades didn't end until just before sunrise.
Photo: AFP
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All the samba schools in Río de Janeiro compete for the title on the last and longest nighttime parade.
Photo: AP
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The deafening thumps of parading percusionists, enormous floats and scantily clad dancers from six renowned schools took part in the celebration Monday night. Another six, among them defending champion Unidos da Tijuca, paraded on Sunday. The winners will be revealed in upcoming days.
Photo: AFP
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The last dance school to perform on the first day of parades Portela, is among the most traditional and well known in Río de Janeiro. The school honored the popular neighborhood of Madureira, a Rio suburb that is one of the birthplaces of Samba and Afro-Brazilian practices.
Photo: AFP
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One of Portela's featured performers was Prince Albert of Mónaco, dressed in a blue shirt identifing the school, and a white hat typical of Rio.
Photo: AFP
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Earlier, Inocentes de Belford Roxo, Unidos da Tijuca, União da Ilha do Governador, Salgueiro and Mocidade Independiente paraded with themes having little to do with Brazil, something relatively new to the Carnaval.
Photo: AFP
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The best example of this new thinking was Inocentes de Belford Roxo, with a parade that focused on Korean immigrat; Unidos da Tijuca, centered its parade on German traditions, while Mocidade Independiente, fused samba and rock in a presentation which honored Rock in Rio.
Photo: AFP
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The new direction for the country's most popular celebration has awakened criticism from purists and traditionalists who believe that Carnaval should celebrate Brazil and have an aspect of social commentary, as well as be a big party.
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Social commentator Artur Xexeo, a longtime observer of Carnaval, attributed the changes to the fact that many of the Samba schools are sponsored by major companies that want to avoid any kind of controversy.
Photo: AFP
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Xexeo admitted that the increased cost of putting on the parades made them impossible to hold with private sponsorship,sometimes as much as $15 million for schools, especially since the origins of the festival come from impoverished favelas.
Photo: AFP
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Even so, as a result of the sponsors "this year there is the most ludicrous collection of themes in the history of Carnaval" which transforms the festival into a party with less and less meaning every year.
Photo: AFP
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The Sambódromo was rocking when Sao Clemente, Mangueira, Beija Flor, Académicos Grande Río, Imperatriz Leopoldinense and Unidos de Vila Isabel schools joined the procession, all born in the favelas (poor neighborhoods) of Rio.
Photo: AFP
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Outside of the Sambadrome, the spectacle of the street parades known as "blocos" embody the spirit of the Carnaval with frenetic rhythms, followed by tens of thousands of people dancing and singing nonstop.
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One of the busiest "blocos" Monday was "Sergeant Pepper," which in keeping with the times encourages its followers to sing songs from The Beatles played on samba rhythm.
Photo: AP
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The madness of Carnival also took hold of other cities like Recife and Salvador de Bahia, where the revelry occupies the streets and is animated by known stars of popular music, like Daniela Mercury, Ivette Sangalo and Carlinhos Brown.
Photo: AFP
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Despite the celebration, Carnival also has tragedy. This Sunday a child was killed and 20 people injured in an accident at a street party in the state of Sergipe (Northeast Brazil), when a sound truck lost control due to lack of brakes.
Photo: AFP
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The child was 11 years old and died at a hospital after the accident. Another child of around the same age was in critical condition will likely lose one of his legs.
Photo: AP
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Two other tragic events also marred the joy of Carnival: Two teenagers were wounded by gunfire in Sao Goncalo, a suburb of the city, and a Brazilian tourist fell overboard from a cruise ship anchored in the port area. His body has not been found and police are still investigating.
Photo: AP
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Carnival still has one more day of color and pageantry as it ends on February 13 -- Ash Wednesday -- a religious holiday that kicks off Lent.
Photo: AP
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Tens of thousands of revelers enjoyed the peak of Rio de Janeiro's Carnaval inside of and out of the famous Sambodromo where Samba schools paraded their floats and costumes.
Photo: AP
