palabras Rodrigo Salazar

The period of year between February and March is considered Carnaval time. It ends with Lent, which signifies the sacrifices Jesus made to his brethren. This religious event is celebrated everywhere in the world. Each country puts its own distinct spin on it, showing a lot about the character of a country. In England, it’s called pancake day. They have pancake races and … zzzzz. Germany uses it as an excuse to put down countries that beat them in wars eons ago.

The two most popular (dare we say fun?) celebrations are in Brazil and New Orleans. In Brazil, carnaval is taken very seriously, with different samba schools battling it out to be crowned the best of carnaval. The genre most associated with the carnaval is the samba, but each city in Brazil has a different take on music and they play accordingly.

Lydia Pinto from Next Brazilian Productions in Houston broke it down, “For those passionate about samba: Rio de Janeiro, but for those who cannot stay away the axe music (a more Caribbean feel), Salvador is definitely a go. Or for a more folkloric experience, Recife!” Samba scolas (schools) from Brazil all compete to win the best scola of the carnaval prize.

If you can’t get down to Brazil this year, there are parties across the U.S. that can give you that crazy experience. DJ True from N.Y.C.’s ALMA parties put it this way, “They can expect everything carnaval ... samba, beautiful girls, samba, beautiful boys, samba, costumes and drag, samba, dancing, samba, noise-makers, beads, masks, samba, drinks, drinks, drinks, samba, dancing, samba, samba and more samba.”

Pinto’s party in Houston is bringing the burgeoning carioca (Brazilian) community together in the lone star state. She thinks it might be a catalyst for even much more, “the Brazilian energy will stay in Houston to reaffirm the bonds of multiculturalism.” The band Sambajah will perform and Samba Enredo will recreate the Rio carnaval with a full percussion ensemble.

L.A.’s Queen Mary is hosting the biggest carnaval in the area, with Danilo and Ki-Xego Axe dancers, Dandara & Gandaia Band, and Maisa Duke bringing that Brazilian energy. There will be no shortage of sexy samba dancers as well.

In New York City, ALMA’s carnaval celebration happens a week after the Rio festivities. DJ True explains, “We purposely did our party after carnaval this year because so many of our friends go to Brazil.” Sullivan Room is going to be sweltering with so much samba and good times.

New York is also an outpost for baile funk. Best described as the rebel sound of the favela (Brazilian shantytown), baile funk is an amalgamation of Miami bass/booty music, hip hop Brazilian beats, and electro. Baile funk femmes Gaiola das Popuzadas will be playing S.O.B’s on Sunday, February 17. Cassiano, a DJ that popularized the sound in the United States, will be spinning, “the party should be insane and the Gaiolas will be bringing the crazy energy of a live funk show which is something that has pretty much never happened here before.”

These parties are like different samba schools, all vying in a friendly competition to see who can move the crowd the most. When you are at the carnaval celebration, just remember two things: Leave the whistles to the professionals; there is nothing worse than overdoing that and/or doing it wrong. 2. Make sure to hydrate yourself with caipirinhas, a Brazilian concoction made with cachaca. It is guaranteed to get the carnavalistic debauchery started.