As our departure date's creeping closer, I'm trying to do my own research so that why I'll have a better idea of what to expect or at least seem like I do. I'm so my parent's daughter. Figure I'd share the learning with you. Plus I'm also thinking ahead and if you know the background now, I won't have to add it later and can focus more on our time there.
On Saturday night, (the day of our arrival) we'll be dancing with Imperio Serrano, one of the Samba schools, in costume for that night's parade.
The Saturday night parade is called the Access Parade. It's for 14 Samba schools who did not make the cut into the final 12. It's a great way to get involved for a much more reasonable price. Schools are actually grouped on their previous year's performance. If a school scores in the top or runner-up position in the Access Parade, then they are moved into one of the Special Group parades on Sunday or Monday night.
The parade that evening begins at 8 pm. It lasts until 6 am. That's right, 6 am. We are number two as far as parading goes so that will definitely help my American sense of time and energy.
Each Samba school is from a different neighborhood within Rio, typically a favela. They all have different histories of success and how they were started. I've learned that Imperio Serrano:
- were estabished in 1947 after members of a top Samba school moved to a new neighborhood,
- they pride themselves on everyone having a say,
- is from a crossing of two neighborhoods: Madureira and Vaz Lobo,
- has had great successes and been in the Top 12 (who actually parade on Sunday and Monday) many times,
- introduced using unique instruments like a frying pan, into the parade,
- had quite a politically interesting history and
- won Carioca Carnaval top prize nine times.
Apparently they also started a dance called the jongo. I guess the crowds think the dancers look like they are trained but in reality, and especially for Andrea and I, well we're definitely not.
Every year, each samba school selects a theme. This year, Imperio Serrano's theme Love of the Street. Rather, loving the soul of the street. Loving all the different times of day. Loving the different people in it. Loving the history of all of Rio's streets.Our costumes definitely reflect this. Here's a photo of them.
We are fruit vendors. I personally think that our costumes look like a cross between Carmen Miranda (the hat), a male flamingo dancer (the shirt) and an American colonist who's met the Wizard of Oz (pants and shoes). Andrea put it best when she said, "I've always wanted to wear a hat like this." And now she can have a real excuse to do so.
The other costumes have even more of a special street appeal. We won't have brooms on our heads. Whew!
To order costumes, you give them your shoe size and then the rest is based on height. That's a whole new way of thinking of yourself. I found it a little funny that the order form said, "If you are a bit corpulent, then order one size larger." Corpulent. What a nice way to say fat. So that means I ordered one size up. Let's just hope that their idea of corpulent is the same as mine.
When the schools parade, each school has a song. A song. One song that they play over and over and over. This song is sung by all of the school participants, including Andrea and I. Gulp! If you listen here you can hear that I'm definitely going to have to practice. They sing it so quickly. Think I'm going to ask my Portuguese teacher next week for some help for sure because I'm completely intimidated. That being said, I'm sure by the end of that night, I'll know it completely as I will have sung it for almost 2 hours!
To be in the parade, you can contact one of the samba schools or there are websites which sell the costume for you participate. We did the latter, especially due to our late decision. The price to participate is pretty expensive so as I mentioned earlier, doing it on Saturday night versus one of the big nights helps a lot. Plus then you're able to watch the higher ranked schools battle it out.
So wish us and Imperio Serrano luck!
The best part was I got to be there to visit them at hospital; to hang out and hold her and just to spend some extra special time with her and her wonderful mommy, Colleen. 
I feel really lucky to have been there for this special time. Would have liked to have spent more time with them all but with a bum ankle, it can cramp baby visiting style and the ability to help. Regardless of that, I feel really priviledged to be there and get to spend the time I was able with her and Colleen.
As we left the consulate, one man waiting for his turned yelled, "See you in the Amazon!" We all smiled as we were the second ones out the door. I was in such shock from our short visit to the consulate, happy shock but just so surprisingly different than my three previous visits.