| A Samba School in the Brazilian tradition is a community group
focussed on samba culture - dance, percussion, music - and embodied
in an annual Carnival. The Samba School is a family which hands
this samba culture down through the generations - hence the essential
groups of Mirim (children) and Baianas (ladies), and the Velha
Guarda (veterans).
In Brazil, Samba Schools exist only in Rio de Janeiro and Sao
Paulo and have well defined structure and traditions. Whilst samba
is simply not well known enough outside Brazil for organisations
to be as large, these are the characteristics which would make
an organisation recognisable as a Samba School to a Brazilian:
The School must take part in a carnival once a year which includes:
An Ala Baiana;
A Bateria;
A Samba Enredo (samba
theme song) which is specially composed each year for the carnival;
An Ala Mirim;
A Porta Bandeira and Mestre
Sala;
A Comissão de Frente.
Each samba school adopts two or three primary colours that are
reflected in their carnival designs. In addition to these, each
samba school is permitted to use gold, silver, black and white.
In practice, however, they also use secondary colours when developing
their theme. The chosen primary colours are related to the Orixas
(Afro-Brazilian deities, from Candomblé - a mixture of Christianity
and African religions).
In Rio Carnival, there is a defined structure for the different
elements of the parade which has evolved over several decades,
and which is adhered to by all groups competing. Each samba school
has a history of its own but also fits into the history of carnival.
There are traditional procedures although only the glorious spectacle
should be evident to the spectators.
Every year, each samba school chooses a theme. This often reflects
the everyday concerns of ordinary people, be these political, joyous,
critical of the society in which we find ourselves etc, and are
frequently irreverent, but always, always luxurious. Depending
upon the theme, the parade may include elements of many other performing
arts, from ballet to circus,
etc. The different influences which are recognisable in the carnival
samba of today, are African, European and from the native peoples
of Brazil.
The general form of the Bateria always conforms to certain
traditions but within these, each Samba School has its own musical
tradition and recognisable style. |
