Crisis Forces São Paulo Samba Schools to Tone Down Glitz and Glamour

02/05/2016 - 08h57

With the dollar at R$4, making imported material more expensive; the reductions of financial incentives by carnival sponsors, and the financial crisis hitting the pockets of the public, the glitz and glamour of the São Paulo samba schools is likely to be more modest this year.

The parades start tonight, at the Anhembi Sambódromo.

	Luis Moura/WPP/Folhapress
	Carnival organizers say that the parades will be more "creative and original" than in previous years

Nonetheless, carnival organizers say that the parades will be more "creative and original" than in previous years, though common themes will still be present, such as celebrations of 100 years of samba, expressions of religious faith and tributes to cities, states and countries.

"There won't be any repetitions on the avenue. The themes might be the same, but the way of approaching them will be different. We've got a lot of surprises for the public," says Paulo Sérgio Ferreira, president of the Independent League of São Paulo Samba Schools.

The school Pérola Negra is due to open the parades at 11:15pm. They were vice-champion of the Access Group in 2015. They will portray "From Canindé to Samba no pé. To Vila Madalena with ballet steps."

Vai-Vai, champion of the Special Group last year, will be the fifth to parade, at 2:50am on Saturday. The group has chosen this year to pay tribute to French history, art and culture, calling their parade "Je Suis Vai-Vai, Welcome to France!"

A call for peace will close the parade of Vai-Vai, a group from the Bixiga neighborhood in the center of São Paulo. To avoid trouble in the grandstands, organizers have divided the schools with the two largest followings over the two days.

Foreseeing reduced demand for more elaborate costumes this year, some schools reduced prices by as much as 50% of their original value. Superior materials which usually have to be imported were changed for Brazilian products.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE
Read the article in the original language