RIO DE JANEIRO: Dancers strutted into the final round of the Rio Carnival's samba championship Monday, capping a wild party that has helped Brazilians forget about Zika and other worries.
The six last samba schools were preening their spectacular feather headdresses and adjusting the shining G-strings and other tiny garments favored by lead dancers ahead of the all-night parades.
Another six rival ensembles had their turn through the night on Sunday at the climax of a Carnival season estimated to attract five million people.
A champion samba school will be announced Wednesday, closing an event that calls itself “the greatest show on Earth. “Some 70,000 fans cheered, sang and shook their hips overnight Sunday to Monday in the stands of Rio's purpose-built dancing stadium, the Sambadrome, as competing samba schools passed in a blur of feathers, glitter and flesh.
The outpouring of color, pounding drums, joyful song, and samba dancing helped the crowds put aside fears over the Zika virus, the economy and attempts to impeach President Dilma Rousseff.
“Despite the problems in our country, our people can't lose their love of partying. And whatever happens in our country, it's still the country of samba,” said Luanny Victoria, 19, before heading off to dance in a skimpy golden outfit with vast green feather wings.
