In the 19th Century the Portugueses entrudo was displaced by a carnival exclusively for the social elite. While the rich enjoyed themselves in Clubs and paraded in corsos of very expensive cars, poored people organized their own processions,the informal ranchos and blocos carnavalescos, which were to lead to the establishment of samba schools. Founded in Rio de Janeiro in the 1930s, these schools gradually became more ambitious.
Their annual parade, officially reorganized in early 1935,reached such a size that a special place, the Sambodromo, was built in 1984 in the center of Rio. Preparations for carnival last for nearly a years and are the work of lots of professionals.
When an Enredo (theme) has been chosen, a samba-enredo contest is held and work is started on the costume and floats.
Ala da bateria (drummers) are the ones that determines which school is the eventual winner. Conducted by a director this wing comprise as many as 3-4 hundred skilled percussionists.
The instruments are :
Surdo de Marcacao, repinique, tamborim, chocalho, pandeiro, reco-reco, agogo, cuica & ganza.
