Traditionally every school choose a theme. It can be an important event, a famous person, a significant era in history, critics to the society and so on… Under the the ruling of da silva the Samba schools were rewarded scholarships if they chose themes related to the origin of Brazil, to the roots of the slaves and to Africa. This actually helped to bring equality between classes in Brazil and reinstated the big drums ,the Baterias, and the African touch in Brazilian Carnivals.

Today, enredos represent an important factor in the carnival competition. The judges evaluate and compare the themes of the schools, aswell as the follow up by song, music, costumes and so on.

The themes for the samba school representations are chosen early, before summer. After the theme is selected, the eliminations of music, lyrics, costumes and so on begins to make a unified and complete carnival show in February / march in the Sambodorome (One of the two streets where carnival is presented).

One of the big schools in the Rio de Janeiro carnaval is Vila st.Isabel which returned to the special group (1.division of samba schools in Rio) after 4 years of difficulties

For Vila st.Isabel the whole neighbourhood or citypart are involved in the elimination. People learn the songs and the dances to support their school into victory. Often tens of thousand people go into the streets to rehearse together with the samba troop. This could be quite an experience for tourists. If you are in Rio around desember – February you should take a trip to the Vila St.Isabel and the street of 28.setembro to dance with the people! Don’t bring a lot of valuables however, because it’s easy to get pick pocketed.

I met the Vila St. Isabel school on their visit to Norway in connection with the ONS-festival and the chosing of carnival enredo, in the Norwegian summer 2004. Herval Bordallo, the responsible for the Rio samba troop expedition, talked about the 2005 years theme, which is connected strongly to Norway. I have written some of what we talked about under:

Me and Herval, having the interview

“Can you say a little bit about the ‘Enredo’ or theme of the samba school this year?”

About the ‘Enredo’ yes. The ‘Enredo’ of Vila st Isabel this year will arbordar the history .. The ‘Enredo’ is “Singrando as mares bravidos, e construindo o futuro” (Navigating in ferocious oceans constructing the future) With this we will tell the history of naval construction together with the advance of navigation. Like the navigation, conquer of continents, habitation of the world was only possible with the advance in technology of the naval industry.

The ‘Enredo’ is a very good motive for us to be here in Norway, as we will tell the story from Noa’s arc until the petroleum platforms. And the Norwegians in the story of humanity, always was recognized / world know as great constructors of ships and floating vessels. Norway has a technology very advanced in the naval sector. We will even tell about “the saga dos Vikings”. We will tell how the Vikings left Norway to be able to conquest others and other lands / grounds and how this conquest brought technology out to the world. So the ‘Enredo’ is a good motive for us to be here in Norway.

From a samba show at the ONS petroleum stands

“Why was this ‘Enredo’ chosen?”

Because Rio de Janeiro is a big centre of naval industry, and also because of the prospects of petroleum. And the ‘Enredo’ is a plastic and beautiful theme with ships, conquerors, arriving Brazil with the revolt of the slaves and olodum, which is the African god of the sea, you have the arrival of the slaves with ships, the formation of the culture in Brazil happened much in function with navigation and the naval industry. Which is the principal industry of Rio de Janeiro.

Samba show from the main stage in Stavanger

“What about this years ‘Enredo’ or theme of the school, what will it be like?”

This years Enredo for st. Vila Isabel will be about navigation and naval construction. The composers are fundamental for the samba school and very important for us. The singer is Partor da vila, wagner vig who is the secretary de minas energy, and Jorge trinta who is a great samba phenomena.

“Will there be a Viking ship also?”

There will be this also.

“So there will be hats with horns as well?”

You think it’s a good idea for carnival this? ( horns are symbols for someone who have been deceived by their girlfriend or boyfriend)

From carnival enredo back to sambacity.info