LEARNING SAMBA IN RIO

IF IT LOOKS SO EASY, why does it feel so difficult? That’s what I ask myself as sweat runs down my forehead. My T-shirt is stuck to my body, I am gasping for air. I tell myself these hardships won’t stop me. I am on a mission: to learn how to dance the samba…

It’s February 2019, and I had arrived in Brazil a few days prior, having picked the Carnival season for my vacation. I’m from Rhineland in Germany, and I love Carnival. Countless times during the celebrations in Cologne, I’ve partied in pubs dressed as a bear, a banana, or a cow. I have boozed, kissed, and danced my way down Zülpicher Strasse with people from France, Spain, and Colombia.

So I thought it would be great to experience Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Carnival. In Brazil the celebration has Catholic roots as an annual feast before the 40-day fasting period of Lent. It has since transformed into one of the world’s biggest festivals, with costumed dancing groups called blocos parading on the streets.

I especially wanted to join the grand finale parade at the Sambódromo stadium and do the samba with thousands of dancers,