Ambre Alas
Schools are divided into alas (wings or sections),with people wearing the same costumes.
Abre-alas is the first group, limited to 15 people
or less. They are in charge of greeting the audience,
setting the mood, and introducing the theme.
Choreographies are often quite elaborate, and may be performed by professional dancers.
Floating ships
Floats (carros alegóricos) are decorated structures that carry special guests in luxury costumes, named destaques. Many have special effects - a bird with flapping wings, a dragon spitting smoke, etc. The proportions are limited by the narrow tree-lined streets that give access to the Sambodrome. Oversized floats are at the risk of losing part of their decoration even before entering the runway, or could get stuck along the way.
Floats may be motorized, and have mechanical parts. Yet most are still pushed by men from the community, either in T-shirts, or wearing costumes designed to blend in. Before ideas of exploitation of cheap labor and other indignities start to pop in your mind, try to understand that everybody is more than happy to contribute in whichever way they can. Being a part of the samba parade is an honor, and these volunteers would probably look awkward in a baiana costume, anyway.
Even though complete nudity is not officially allowed, sometimes floats carry topless or almost-naked beauties, male and female. You get the idea: a little body paint, lots-a-glitter, a smile... The best looking men and women are selected for these special spots.The right stunt is a guaranteed headline the following day, and some do not draw a line for a chance of few seconds in the spotlight.Ala Baianas, Mestre sala and Porta bandeira
Ala das baianas is a wing with women dressed in big round colonial-style skirts. These positions are reserved for ladies from the community, and their (very expensive) costumes are subsidized. Dozens of baianas spinning around always bring down the house.
Porta-Bandeira and Mestre-Sala
Porta-Bandeira and Mestre-Sala are the leading couple in the school. Porta-bandeira is the lady that carries the school banner with pride and poise. Crowds stand and cheer as she passes by. Her partner, the mestre-sala, has the job of drawing everybody's attention to his queen. And they do that by performing the most elaborate samba steps and courtesies ever - seeing to believing.
