Carnival: São Paulo's Samba Schools
Explore images of São Paulo's samba schools, behind the scenes and performing at parades
Escola de samba Gaviões da Fiel (2022-04-23) by Zanone FraissatFolha de S.Paulo
2022
The Gaviões da Fiel samba school's allegorical float during their parade at the Polo Cultural e Esportivo Grande Otelo—commonly known as the Anhembi Sambadrome—in the Santana district of São Paulo's North Zone.
Before the sambadrome opened in 1991, the São Paulo carnival parades took place in the city's downtown area, initially on São João Avenue and in the Anhangabaú Valley. Between 1977 and 1990, the competitions were held on Tiradentes Avenue, also in downtown São Paulo.
Despite the city's carnival parades dating back to the 1930s, São Paulo's City Hall (Prefeitura) did not officially recognize them until 1968.
Carnaval em São Paulo (1981-03-03)Folha de S.Paulo
1981
Dancers from the Vai-Vai samba school interact with members of the drumming section during the 1981 parade. The group was crowned champion with its theme Believe It or Not (Acredite Se Quiser).
Set up 92 years ago, Vai-Vai has won 15 titles, making it São Paulo's most successful school. In 2022, however, the group was relegated to the less prestigious access league (grupo de acesso) for the first time in its history.
Carnaval: rainha de bateria da escola de samba 'Império de Casa Verde' (2013-02-10) by Robson VenturaFolha de S.Paulo
2013
The queen of the drums section, Andreia Andrade, during the parade by the Império de Casa Verde samba school. Casa Verde finished fifth that year, with the winning school being Mocidade Alegre.
Carnaval de São Paulo (1974-02)Folha de S.Paulo
1974
Members of the Unidos do Peruche samba school's drumming section parade to the samba theme Four Festivals in Brazilian Folklore (Quatro Festas do Folclore Brasileiro).
Carnaval: integrante da Vai-Vai (1996-02-18) by Paulo GiandaliaFolha de S.Paulo
1996
Members of the Vai-Vai samba school parade to the sound of its theme The Queen: The Night Transforms Everything (A Rainha, A Noite Tudo Transforma). The school would be crowned the 1996 São Paulo carnival champion.
Carnaval de rua (1968)Folha de S.Paulo
1968
A flag-bearer (porta-bandeira) and her master of ceremonies (mestre-sala) during the parades in 1968, the first year that São Paulo's City Hall (Prefeitura) officially recognized the city's carnival competitions.
That year, the winning samba school was Nenê de Vila Matilde with its theme Vendaval Maravilhoso.
Criança no Carnaval (1988-02-17) by Sérgio TomisakiFolha de S.Paulo
1988
A 9-year-old boy copies the mestre-sala (the flag bearer's dancing partner) during a break in the parades on Tiradentes Avenue. Vai-Vai was the champion that year, with its theme Beloved Jorge Amado: The Story of a Brazlian Race (Amado Jorge, A História de uma Raça Brasileira).
Integrantes da escola de samba (2005-02-05) by Fernando DonasciFolha de S.Paulo
2005
Members of the Tom Maior samba school parade to the sound of its samba theme If You Know How to Use It, It Won't Run Out! (Sabendo Usar...Não Vai Faltar!) about ecology and recycling.
Ensaio da Nenê de Vila Matilde (1970-12-07)Folha de S.Paulo
1970
Dancers from the Nenê de Vila Matilde samba school rehearse at the group's headquarters for the 1971 parade. The group would finish third with its theme Brazil Is Celebrating in Aladino's Dream (O Brasil em Festa no Sonho de Aladino).
Escola de samba 'X9 Paulistana' (2011-03-06) by Rivaldo GomesFolha de S.Paulo
2011
The queen of the drums section, Joana Machado, during the X-9 Paulistana samba school parade. The group finished in 10th place with its samba theme From Eternal Child to Ambassador of Joy, Renato Aragão, Didi Trapalhão! (Da Eterna Criança ao Embaixador da Alegria, Renato Aragão, Didi Trapalhão!), which was a tribute to the famous Brazilian comedian Renato Aragão.
Carnaval: integrantes da bateria da escola de samba Príncipe Negro (1980-02)Folha de S.Paulo
1980
A percussionist from the Príncipe Negro samba school. The school was relegated to the São Paulo carnival's less prestigious access league (grupo de acesso) after its first parade in the top group.
Rainha de bateria da escola de samba 'Vai-Vai' (2017-02-25) by Bruno SantosFolha de S.Paulo
2017
The Vai-Vai samba school's queen of the drums section, Carmen Silva, dances to the sound of the group's samba theme In Xirê do Anhembi, the Most Beautiful Oxum Appeared ... Little Girl, Mother of Bahia—Ialorixá of Brazil (No Xirê do Anhembi, a Oxum Mais Bonita Surgiu…Menininha, Mãe da Bahia - Ialorixá do Brasil). The school came third in that year's competition.
Carnaval: escola de samba Unidos de Vila Maria (1960-03)Folha de S.Paulo
1960
The Unidos de Vila Maria samba school pays tribute to the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont by recreating his 14-bis airplane.
Carnaval: escola de samba 'Nenê de Vila Matilde' (1971-02)Folha de S.Paulo
1971
The Baianas section—made up of traditional Bahian dancers with their round dresses—from the Nenê de Vila Matilde samba school, during the carnival parades in 1971. The group finished third with its theme O Brasil em Festa no Sonho de Aladino.
Carnaval: integrante de escola de samba prepara carro alegórico para desfile (2017-02-23) by Eduardo AnizelliFolha de S.Paulo
2017
A carnival producer gets an allegorical float ready on the eve of the samba school parades in São Paulo.
Carnaval de São Paulo (1989-02-09) by Jorge AraújoFolha de S.Paulo
1989
Members of the Unidos do Peruche samba school cheer from the stands on Tiradentes Avenue in São Paulo. The group finished runner-up at the São Paulo carnival that year with its theme, The Seven Thrones of the Divine Orishas (Os Sete Tronos dos Divinos Orixás).
Carro alegórico da "Rosas de Ouro" (1998-02-23) by Lalo de AlmeidaFolha de S.Paulo
1998
The Rosas de Ouro samba school's allegorical float. The samba school's theme was Samba da Garoa, an ode to samba in São Paulo, and to the partnership between Brazilian composer Adoniran Barbosa and the São Paulo samba group Demônios da Garoa.
Carnaval de rua (1969-02)Folha de S.Paulo
1969
A samba school parading in downtown São Paulo. That year, the Nenê de Vila Matilde samba school was crowned champion with its samba theme With Old Recife in Our Hearts (Com Recife Antigo no Coração).
Carnaval: integrante da escola de samba Unidos de Vila Maria (2009-02-21) by Almeida RochaFolha de S.Paulo
2009
A member of the Unidos de Vila Maria samba school, which paraded to its samba theme From Survival to Luxury, From Illusion to Hallucination: Money, Myth, History, and Reality (Da Sobrevivência à Luxúria, da Ilusão à Alucinação. Dinheiro, Mito, História e Realidade). The school finished in eighth place that year.
Carnaval da Camisa Verde e Branco em 1982 (1982-02-22) by Cícero O. NetoFolha de S.Paulo
1982
Revelers from the Camisa Verde e Branco samba school parade with its theme Wonderful Blackness: Mutual World Kitoko (Negros Maravilhosos Mutuo Mundo Kitoko). The group finished third in 1982.
Escola de samba X-9 (2013-02-09) by Rivaldo GomesFolha de S.Paulo
2013
Members of the Baianas section—made up of traditional Bahian dancers with their round dresses—from the X-9 Paulistana samba school, which finished 10th with its samba theme If Living Joyfully Is Enough to Have Diversity: Smile! Because Today São Paulo Is All Harmony (Se Pra Ter Diversidade Basta Viver Com Alegria: Sorria! Pois São Paulo Hoje é Só Harmonia).
Carro alegórico da Camisa Verde e Branco (2008-01-23) by Alex AlmeidaFolha de S.Paulo
2008
A carnival producer puts the finishing touches to the Camisa Verde e Branco samba school's allegorical float. The group would be relegated to the less prestigious access league (grupo de acesso) that year.
Mocidade Alegre (2004-02-22) by Jefferson CoppolaFolha de S.Paulo
2004
A flag-bearer (porta-bandeira) and her master of ceremonies (mestre-sala) from the winning samba school Mocidade Alegre. Its samba theme, From Beyond the Sea to the Land of Drizzle ... Praise These Good People (Do Além-Mar à Terra da Garoa…Salve Esta Gente Boa), praised the role played by immigrants in São Paulo.
Escola de samba 'Pérola Negra' (2011-03) by Danilo VerpaFolha de S.Paulo
2011
Preparing the Pérola Negra samba school's allegorical float. The group would finish 11th with its theme Abraham: Faith's Patriarch (Abraão, o Patriarca da Fé) featuring stories from the Old Testament.
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