Last week, Bella Diva Dance celebrated Fat Tuesday Carnaval at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, where we performed and danced to samba wearing our magnificent feathered colorful costumes. At the same time, samba parades were taking over streets in Rio de Janeiro, as Brazil was celebrating its world famous Rio Carnival 2015.
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro origin
Rio Carnival is probab
ly the most famous and largest dance event carnival celebrated on a yearly basis. It is also one of the most antique festivals as it dates back to 1723. Every year, more than 2 million people pack the streets for five days (this year’s dates: February 13th – February 18th). The origins of the festival are tied to Greek and Roman civilizations, who worshiped their gods through wine and revelry celebration. Later, the Catholic Church modified this celebration to be led into Ash Wednesday. So, it’s a 5-day wild celebration, 40 days before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, one is supposed to abstain from all bodily pleasures, and that’s how Carnival acts as a farewell to the pleasures of the flesh.
There are many celebrations held throughout the country, but Carnival at Rio de Janeiro is undoubtedly the biggest and most visited one. The main show, is composed by the Samba Parades (or Sambodromo), which is actually a competition between the top Samba schools in Rio. There are about 200 Samba schools, and these are divided into leagues. These leagues , and other categories like Children’s Samba Schools, allow for different parades to take place during the days of Carnival. Many aspects are judged, such as percussion band, the samba song selected, costumes, floats and props, and more. Other attractions of Carnival are its balls, which range on location and prices, street parties, and even the opening of samba schools to the public, at night.
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Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].