CAPRICHOSOS DE PILARES SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: The Caprichosos de Pilares Samba School is very cheerful, with easy-going parades. Headquartered in the outlying Pilares district of Rio, its colors are blue and white. Established in 1949, it is still today battling to take its first title in the Special Group.

COLORS : BLUE AND WHITE

UNIDOS DA TIJUCA SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: One of the oldest samba groups in Rio, the Unidos da Tijuca Samba School was established in 1931, taking its sole championship title five years later, during Carnival 1936. Its grounds are located on the Morro do Borel hill in Tijuca, where most of its members live, although its rehearsals are held at the Clube dos Portuários near the Rodoviária bus terminal.

COLORS : YELLOW AND BLUE

SALGUEIRO SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: The Salgueiro Samba School is supported by one of the largest fan-clubs in Rio. During the 1960 and 1970s, it gathered together a group of artists who changed the history of these Carnival Parades, particularly through showcasing Afro-Brazilians and their achievements. These artists established a group and spread out to other samba schools. Of the seven championships won by this Samba School in its red and white livery since it was first established in 1953, only one has been taken at the Sambadrome.

COLORS : RED AND WHITE

GRANDE RIO SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: Established in 1988, the Grande Rio Samba School is one of the newest members of the Special Group. Its grounds are in the Duque de Caxias satellite town, which is one of the most heavily-populated districts in the Baixada Fluminense area. This is the favorite Samba School of television stars, who often attend its rehearsal at the Monte Líbano Club in the South Zone of Rio. Its colors are green, red and white. It has not yet managed to take the championship title in the main parade.

COLORS : GREEN, RED AND WHITE

MANGUEIRA SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: The first Carnival Parade Champion (1932) and the winner of the first Parade held in the Sambadrome (1984), the Mangueira Samba School has long collected titles. It is also a winner through its outreach activities, with its trail-blazing efforts through vocational training workshops and on the sports field serving as models for its sister samba schools. Always concerned with enhancing its traditions, this Samba School adpted well to the modern version of the Carnival Parade, with its green and pink colors still collecting championship titles.

COLORS : GREEN AND PINK

PORTELA SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: A direct descendent of the Conjunto Oswaldo Cruz samba group, established in 1923, the Portela Samba School calls itself the oldest samba group in Rio, although its official name was registered only during the 1930s. With twenty championship titles, its imposing eagle – its official symbol – is the leading winner of Carnival in Rio, although it has never taken the title in the Sambadrome.

COLORS : BLUE AND WHITE

TRADICAO SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: Like the Sambadrome and the Samba School League (Liesa) itself, the Tradição Samba School celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2004. Established on October 1, 1984, it is one of the youngest members of the Special Group. Its colors are blue and white, with rehearsal grounds in Campinho, a suburb close to Madureira.

COLORS : ROYAL BLUE, WHITE, GOLD AND SILVER.

PORTO DA PEDRA SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: Representing the São Gonçalo District, the second-most populous municipality in Rio de Janeiro State, the Unidos do Porto da Pedra Samba School was established on May 3, 1984 – another samba school celebrating its 20th anniversary. It is deeply involved in outreach activities, running a circus school to train young performers. The colors of its flag are red and white.

COLORS : RED AND WHITE

IMPERATRIZ SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: The top title-holder of the Carnival Parades held in the Sambadrome, the Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba School holds six titles, three of them taken in consecutive years (1999, 2000 and 2001): an unparalleled feat. This Samba School was established on March 6, 1959, with its green and white colors headquartered in Ramos, a suburb of the Leopoldina District.

COLORS : GREEN AND WHITE

IMPÉRIO SERRANO SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: One of the longest-established Samba Schools in Rio de Janeiro, Império Serrano is headquartered in Madureira, a district that is home to most of its members and where its grounds are located. Established by stevedores on March 23, 1947, the colors of its flag are green and white. Its main characteristic is the high quality of its theme sambas, several of which have become real classics.

COLORS : GREEN AND WHITE

BEIJA-FLOR SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: The Parade Champion last year, Beija-Flor has been a front-line challenger for this title during the past five Carnivals. It currently heads up the Samba School League (Liesa) Ranking. The only representative of the Nilopolis District in the Baixada Fluminense, it was established on December 25, 1948.

COLORS : BLUE AND WHITE

VIRADOURO SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: The Unidos da Viradouro Samba School represents the City of Niterói, facing Rio de Janeiro on the other side of the Guanabara Bay. Established on June 24, 1946, its red and white colors have taken a title in the Special Group, and it almost always appears in the Champion´s Parade.

COLORS: RED AND WHITE

MOCIDADE SAMBA SCHOOL

GENERAL INFO: The Mocidade Independente Samba School was famed for its incredible percurssion section (bateria) headed by Mestre André during the 1960s and 1970s. It then began to win titles and joined the top Group. Established on November 10, 1955 and headquartered in Padre Miguel, West Zone, Rio de Janeiro, its colors and white.

COLORS: GREEN AND WHITE