Ivete Sangalo to Miss Out on Carnival in Salvador for the First Time in 25 Years

02/09/2018 - 11h22

This will be the first time in 25 years that singer Ivete Sangalo will be absent from Salvador's carnival. Normally, at this time of year Ms. Sangalo would be preoccupied with costumes and music trucks, but this time around she's openly talking about cribs and bedding. She is, after all, 8 months pregnant.

In the meantime, her staff, which can reach up to around 1,500 employees during Carnival, was dismantled. Musicians, producers and even those who wear lamb costumes for the Coruja e Cerveja & Cia block were "forced" to go on vacation.

Ms. Sangalo's absence from the festival means that several of the gears that get the economy in Salvador turning will be staying put.

Overall, about 12,000 partygoers will have to find somewhere else to march given that the carnival blocks Ms. Sangalo is in charge of will not be assembled this time around.

The partygoers have already refrained from spending R$ 9 million (US$ 2.7 million) on special shirts that are used as entrance tickets and are sold for something between R$ 750 and R$ 850 (US$ 230 - US$ 260).

In terms of money raised from sales and sponsors, which can arrive at up to 8 brands, Ivete Sangalo's blocks earned R$ 15 million (US$ 4.8 million) per Carnival.

Ms. Sangalo's absence from the party will be a test for carnival in Salvador, whose business model has collapsed, erasing the line that separates partygoers who pay to attend carnival from those who don't and splitting up the festival in dozens of fragmented blocks.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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	Alessandra Lori/Ag. A Tarde/Folhapress
	This will be the first time in 25 years that singer Ivete Sangalo will be absent from Salvador's carnival