STORY: Location: Rio De Janeiro, BrazilRio's samba schools are rushing to finish their Carnival costumesLong hours are spent preparing feathers, ruffles and headpieces[Cecilia Teixeira, Seamstress ...

Proudly, Regina Coeli adorns herself with a spectacular crown of green and orange feathers. She prepares to parade in a “escola” in a town in the interior of Brazil, with the “luxury” material that ...

Every samba school must have a song that is repeatedly played for up to 80 minutes to support the theme behind its costumes and floats. Unidos da Tijuca's theme is Logun Edé, the star’s orisha ...

An image of Jesus lays amid costume pieces at the "Unidos de Padre Miguel" samba school as members prepare for their Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.

A member of the Turma da Paz de Madureira, or TPM, samba school plays a drum during a rehearsal in preparation for Rio's Carnival parade, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023.

The Mocidade Independente samba school, one of Rio’s most popular, has 240 drummers in its section. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.

As one of Rio’s 12 top-tier samba schools, Unidos de Padre Miguel is having its shot at fame, perhaps even glory — all while bringing in more money into its community.