Sambadrome
Encyclopedia
The Sambadrome
Marquês de Sapucaí (Sambódromo in Portuguese
) or simply Sambadrome, is a purpose-built parade area in downtown Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
where samba school
s parade competitively each year during the Rio Carnival
. The parades attract many thousands of Brazilians and foreign tourists each year.
) was designed by Oscar Niemeyer
and built in 1984. It consists of 700 m stretch of the Marquês de Sapucaí
street converted into a permanent parade ground with bleachers built on either side for spectators. Its capacity is 90,000. The complex includes an area located at the end of the parade route, the Praça da Apoteose
(Apotheosis Square), where the bleachers are set further back from the parade area, creating a square where revelers gather as they end their parade.
In December, the samba schools begin holding technical rehearsals at the Sambadrome, leading up to Carnival.
Outside Carnival season, the Praça da Apoteose is occasionally used as a venue for international music concerts.
The official Carnival parades take place just before the start of Lent
. They are held for four consecutive nights, during which schools parade one after another from 8pm until the morning. The Access Group A samba schools are hosted on Saturday, Special Group on Sunday and Monday and Group Rio de Janeiro 1 on Tuesday. The Special Group nights are by far the biggest attractions. The parades are televised nationally and are watched by large audiences.
Each samba school has a preset amount of time (90 minutes) to parade from one end of the Sambadrome to the other with all its thousands of dancers, its drum section, and a number of floats. Each school has its own unique qualities according to its own traditions. Schools are graded by a jury, and the competition is ferocious. On Ash Wednesday
(quarta-feira de cinzas), grades are gathered and one school is declared the winner. The Parade of Champions is held the following Saturday featuring the five winning samba schools in the Special Group category.
In 2008, ticket prices for normal bleacher, or Grandstands, seats in the Sambadrome on Special Group nights ranged between R$10 and R$500 (US$6.50 to US$312.50), with VIP Cabins, or Covered Boxes, seating (which includes open bar, buffet - dinner, dessert and more) and scalped tickets costing much more (starting from US$2,500.00, in the best locations).
Inflated prices to watch star samba schools exclude many Brazilians from attending. As a reaction to high levels of commercialization, Rio de Janeiro has experienced a resurgence in free block parties (Street Bands and Groups: Blocos
) that take place in suburbs all over the city.
It is possible for a person who is not a member of any samba school to buy a costume and arrange for a spot as a dancer in one of the parade groups.
, the venue will host archery
and the athletics
marathon event, and for the 2016 Summer Paralympics
, the venue will host archery
.
In preparations for the Olympics, a nearby old factory was demolished and extra bleachers will be built there increasing spectator capacity by around 18,000 seats, in accordance with Niemayer's original project of having the Sambadrome complex with a symmetrical design.
Sambadrome
The Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí or simply Sambadrome, is a purpose-built parade area in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where samba schools parade competitively each year during the Rio Carnival...
Marquês de Sapucaí (Sambódromo in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
) or simply Sambadrome, is a purpose-built parade area in downtown Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where samba school
Samba school
A samba school is a club or dancing school. They practice and often perform in huge square-compounds devoted to practicing and exhibiting samba, an African-Brazilian dance. The schools are traditionally associated with a particular neighborhood, often shanty towns...
s parade competitively each year during the Rio Carnival
Rio Carnival
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous festival held before Lent every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.-Samba schools:...
. The parades attract many thousands of Brazilians and foreign tourists each year.
The venue
The Sambadrome ("Sambódromo" in PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
) was designed by Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho is a Brazilian architect specializing in international modern architecture...
and built in 1984. It consists of 700 m stretch of the Marquês de Sapucaí
Marquês de Sapucaí
Marquês de Sapucaí may refer to:* Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil* Cândido José de Araújo Viana, Marquis of Sapucaí , a Brazilian writer...
street converted into a permanent parade ground with bleachers built on either side for spectators. Its capacity is 90,000. The complex includes an area located at the end of the parade route, the Praça da Apoteose
Praça da Apoteose
The Apotheosis Square is a venue in Rio de Janeiro. It is part of Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, which can hold a maximum 90,000 people. For concerts, it can hold from 10,000 to 40,000 people....
(Apotheosis Square), where the bleachers are set further back from the parade area, creating a square where revelers gather as they end their parade.
In December, the samba schools begin holding technical rehearsals at the Sambadrome, leading up to Carnival.
Outside Carnival season, the Praça da Apoteose is occasionally used as a venue for international music concerts.
The Carnival parade events
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
. They are held for four consecutive nights, during which schools parade one after another from 8pm until the morning. The Access Group A samba schools are hosted on Saturday, Special Group on Sunday and Monday and Group Rio de Janeiro 1 on Tuesday. The Special Group nights are by far the biggest attractions. The parades are televised nationally and are watched by large audiences.
Each samba school has a preset amount of time (90 minutes) to parade from one end of the Sambadrome to the other with all its thousands of dancers, its drum section, and a number of floats. Each school has its own unique qualities according to its own traditions. Schools are graded by a jury, and the competition is ferocious. On Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter...
(quarta-feira de cinzas), grades are gathered and one school is declared the winner. The Parade of Champions is held the following Saturday featuring the five winning samba schools in the Special Group category.
In 2008, ticket prices for normal bleacher, or Grandstands, seats in the Sambadrome on Special Group nights ranged between R$10 and R$500 (US$6.50 to US$312.50), with VIP Cabins, or Covered Boxes, seating (which includes open bar, buffet - dinner, dessert and more) and scalped tickets costing much more (starting from US$2,500.00, in the best locations).
Inflated prices to watch star samba schools exclude many Brazilians from attending. As a reaction to high levels of commercialization, Rio de Janeiro has experienced a resurgence in free block parties (Street Bands and Groups: Blocos
Blocos
Blocos are the street bands and groups that are the main popular expression in Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil. These demonstrations are mixed under the term "street carnival", a term that still includes the bandstands and parades at Rio Branco Avenue, and happen during a period of about one...
) that take place in suburbs all over the city.
It is possible for a person who is not a member of any samba school to buy a costume and arrange for a spot as a dancer in one of the parade groups.
Upgrade for 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics
For the 2016 Summer Olympics2016 Summer Olympics
The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, are a major international multi-sport event to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee...
, the venue will host archery
Archery at the Summer Olympics
Archery had its debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics and has been contested in 13 Olympiads. Eighty three different nations have appeared in the Olympic archery competitions, with France appearing the most often at 11 times. It is governed by the International Archery Federation...
and the athletics
Athletics at the Summer Olympics
Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The modern program now comprises track and field events, road running...
marathon event, and for the 2016 Summer Paralympics
2016 Summer Paralympics
The 2016 Summer Paralympic Games will be the fifteenth Paralympics and will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. The host city of the Games was announced at the 121st IOC Session held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 2, 2009.-Barra Cluster:* Olympic Aquatics Stadium - Swimming* Olympic...
, the venue will host archery
Archery at the Summer Paralympics
Para-archery has been contested at every Summer Paralympic Games since they were first held in 1960. Separate individual and team events are held for men and women. Archers are classified according to the extent of their disability, with separate individual events for each class....
.
In preparations for the Olympics, a nearby old factory was demolished and extra bleachers will be built there increasing spectator capacity by around 18,000 seats, in accordance with Niemayer's original project of having the Sambadrome complex with a symmetrical design.
See also
- Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba do Rio de JaneiroLiga Independente das Escolas de Samba do Rio de JaneiroThe Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba do Rio de Janeiro - Independent League of the Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro - or LIESA, is the principal association that organizes the Carnival of the city of Rio de Janeiro....
- Anhembi Sambadrome
- List of Oscar Niemeyer works