Rehearsal Night
First Impressions of the Sambódromo.
Nighttime view of the Sambadrome’s illuminated stands and iconic arches, with twinkling favela lights on the hillside behind, moments before the Ensaio Técnico.
As I stepped into the Sambadrome under a cloak of velvety night, the air itself seemed to shimmer with anticipation, a gentle hum of drums yet to awaken and hearts yet to quicken.
The colossal stands, stood hushed and Imposing, bathed in a soft luminescence that felt almost otherworldly. Every light fixture along the grand avenue cast crystalline halos, transforming concrete into a silken, moonlit pathway. Beyond this gleaming expanse, the iconic arches of the Sambadrome rose like a guardian spirit, backlit by a constellation of favela lights perched upon the hills.
Those scattered lights, clusters of warmth and resilience, twinkled like earthly stars against the dark canvas of the horizon, whispering ancient lullabies of community and hope.
The Sacred Ritual of the Sambadrome
As the dancers stepped onto the iconic Sambadrome, I noticed a profound ritual: many paused to touch the ground, kiss their fingers, and cross themselves. It was a moment of reverence, a silent prayer to the stage that holds so much history and heart. For them, this wasn’t just a performance, it was a dream realized, a culmination of months (or even years) of hard work and passion. Some dancers wiped away tears, their emotions spilling over in a mix of joy, pride, and disbelief. Capturing these raw, fleeting moments reminded me why storytelling through photography is so powerful. It freezes time, preserving the soul of an experience.
The first samba school did not hesitate at the threshold, their silhouettes framed by sharp lights, as a collective hum of anticipation rippled through them, each heartbeat bearing the solemn weight of being the very first.
Inocentes de BELFORD ROXO 2025 | Ensaio Técnico RJ - Grupo Ouro Thank you @andrelisenna
Moments Behind the Scenes
Comissão de Frente: As the curtain rises on Inocentes de Belford Roxo’s parade, the Comissão de Frente takes the spotlight, delivering a breathtaking introduction that captivates and prepares the audience for the journey ahead. A small ensemble of performers, each move is purposeful and imbued with meaning, offering a glimpse into the heart of the samba school’s theme. Through sharp choreography and vibrant costumes, they weave a story that resonates with Brazil's rich cultural tapestry. With every gesture, the Comissão de Frente ignites anticipation, inviting all who watch to immerse themselves in the spectacle and rhythm of the samba
Allegorical Floats: The allegorical floats in Inocentes de Belford Roxo’s parade are nothing short of visual masterpieces, bringing the school’s theme to life in an explosion of color and creativity. Each float is a towering representation of the narrative the samba school seeks to tell, crafted with intricate detail to evoke emotions and provoke thought. The artists behind these floats merge craftsmanship with symbolism, creating surreal, larger-than-life structures that convey the essence of the theme—whether it’s a tribute to Brazilian folklore, a social commentary, or a celebration of cultural heritage. As they glide through the Sambadrome, the floats act as both spectacle and storytelling vehicle, sweeping the audience into a dreamlike journey where every curve, color, and character holds a deeper meaning.
Samba Dancers, Alas, and Ala das Baianas: Inocentes de Belford Roxo’s parade pulses with rhythm and soul, where the samba dancers, with their flawlessly synchronized routines, bring the school’s samba-enredo to life through both movement and song. Each step, every twirl, is an expression of the narrative woven into the music, with the dancers’ energy and passion echoing the heart of samba itself. Surrounding them are the Alas—distinct wings composed of hundreds of samba school members, each group a vital part of the overall story. These wings are a vibrant tapestry, with participants dressed in coordinated costumes that reflect the theme, creating a unified visual statement. Among the most iconic and beloved wings is the Ala das Baianas, where graceful Bahian women, draped in flowing white dresses, carry with them the spirit and history of Bahia’s African roots. Together, these elements form an unforgettable spectacle, blending dance, song, and culture into a dynamic expression of Brazilian heritage.
President: Reginaldo Gomes
Drummers' Queen: Malu Torres
Carnival Art Director: Lucas Milato
As the drums take over, the energy becomes electric, filling the air with a joy that pulses through every heartbeat. The rhythm sweeps the crowd into a trance, where every beat seems to echo the very spirit of samba itself.
Cantor: Daniel Silva
Inside the Bateria: A Journey into the Heartbeat of Innocentes Belford Roxo
Stepping into the midst of the bateria is like entering a living, breathing organism—its pulse defined by the syncopated voices of countless drums. Each instrument contributes a vital thread to the samba tapestry: the deep, sonorous thump of the surdo lays down the foundation, anchoring the rhythm with a heartbeat that resonates through the soles of your feet; the repinique rings out like a clarion call, guiding transitions and punctuating moments of collective breath; the caixa adds a crisp double-time chatter that dances atop the bass; while the tamborim, chocalho, and agogô weave bright, metallic accents into the weave. As each drummer immerses themselves in their specific line, the layers coalesce into an exhilarating current—one moment titanic, the next whispering, always propulsive.
The energy within that sea of percussionists is electric. You feel it first in the stance of each musician, shoulders poised, eyes alive with concentration yet alight with joy. Their bodies sway almost imperceptibly with the groove, hands flying across drum skins and cowbells, beads of sweat catching the light as if celebrating their own vitality. When a call from the repinique dancer soars, the rest of the bateria responds in perfect lockstep: a collective exhalation, a unified surge of sound that ripples through the grandstand and beyond. In those moments, individual musicians vanish into a singular force of will—every breath, every strike of skin against wood, an affirmation of belonging and of tradition. It isn’t merely technique you witness; it is history incarnate, passed from one generation of sambistas to the next.
Inocentes Belford Roxo bateria 2025. Ensaio tecnico. Sambadromo Marques de Sapucai.
Samba Lyrics:
Ewe, the cure comes from the forest
Ewe ôô in Bantu is catendé
Ossaim, the protector of the power to heal
In the Nagô faith, the orixá
Who seeks in the heart of the jungle
The sap to prepare
The essence, the bath, the magic
Magic that came from there
From the black mother, not only Ossaim
It comes from Angola, Jejê, Nagô
Xangô tried, Oyá brought the wind
But the foundation, the father kept
Leaves of Salvation, seeds
A miraculous encounter
With medicinal power
Plants of the noble land of Tupã
The light of a new tomorrow is natural
From the prayer to end the curse
The smoke is the charm of grandma's pipe
Nature combined with science
In the fight against disease
Medicine that makes me better
My heart is Inocentes
Of Belford-Roxo, my love, I am happy
The healthy body guides the mind
I move forward, I go with the strength of the root
Positioning myself to capture this maelstrom of rhythm required both respect and a strategic vantage point. I stood low and close at the edge of the bateria’s formation, where I could feel the vibrations travel up my legs as each surdo resonated. A wide-angle lens allowed me to include the row of musicians stretching into the distance, revealing the depth and unity of their formation, while a faster prime lens let me isolate a single pair of hands mid-stroke frozen in a moment of kinetic poetry. I had to anticipate shifts in lighting: at times, spotlights cut through the plumes of dust and sweat, illuminating faces contorted in rapture; at others, shadows swallowed entire rows of tambourines, forcing me to adjust ISO and shutter speed on the fly to preserve the sharp crack of a drumstick. The greatest challenge was synchronizing with their rhythm—learning to breathe with the surdo’s downbeat so that, when the crescendo exploded, my shutter would open at the same instant, capturing that fraction of a second when time itself seemed to tremble.
In documenting the bateria of Innocentes Belford Roxo, I found myself not merely a photographer but an apprentice of sound, learning to see music as light and movement. Each frame became an ode to their devotion, a testament to the energy that rippled through Transcarioca and carried their samba story across the Sambadrome. For anyone who has never felt the surge of a live samba bateria, imagine standing inside a living cathedral where drums substitute for organ pipes and the congregation pulses in unison. In that cathedral, I, camera in hand became both spectator and witness, preserving the incandescent spirit of Innocentes Belford Roxo’s heart and soul.
