mestre sala brazil carnival

8/9/2019 Mestre Sala Brazil Carnival

1/4

Mestre Sala: THE

Samba Host ofCarnival Parades

On this article, we will detail the figure of one of the most respected characters

within the Brazilian Carnaval festivity: theMestre-Sala, translated to Samba-Host.Below, you will understand why this iconic element is able to symbolize the essenceand honor of the Carnaval culture. This figure, just like the Flag-Bearer, canrepresent the highest distinction to individuals who have devoted their career andlives to Carnaval and Samba in Brazil.

Below, an excellent shot of Alexandre Vidal of Academicos da Rocinha Samba- Host.

The Brazilian carnaval figure/element that pairs with the Porta-Bandeira- Flagbearer in Brazilian Carnaval parade is the Samba-Host. His main artistic functionduring the parade whilst courting his flag-bearing partner, is to protect the Porta-

bandeira and the banner of the samba school. Symbolically, the Mestre-Sala carriesa handkerchief or fan. Carnaval historians note that in the past, razors and small
http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/photos/category/mestre-salahttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/photos/category/mestre-salahttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/photos/category/mestre-salahttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/photos/category/flag-bearerhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/photos/category/flag-bearerhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/photos/category/flag-bearerhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/photos/category/mestre-sala


2/4

knives were concealed within the fans/handkerchiefs and would be readily used ifsomeone tried to steal the samba-school banner.

Below, mestre-sala Rogerinho, that used has danced for MocidadeandUnidos da Tijucasamba-school, and today representsPortela. As you can see, his clothing is very rich and detailed.

Photo Credit: Diogo Mendes

The second distinguishing attribution of the Mestre-sala is to draw everyonesattention to his protge and make sure the samba-school banner/flag itself,attracts media and popular awareness during a parade. He wants to make sure thePorta-Bandeira will be positively evaluated, and samba-schools bannerhighlighted. Unlike other samba dancers, his choreography is refined and delicate,resembling the court dances of France aristocratic palaces. Some samba-danceexperts say both should slide during the official samba parade. The samba-hostcostumes also resemble those elegant clothing worn on European mid 18th centurysaloons, including a wig.

Both porta-bandeira / mestre-sala roles in the carnival culture can really mean thetop of a career and life devoted to samba. Most couples you see at Rio de Janeiroand So Paulo carnaval parades have probably been dancing and practicing sambafor at least 15-20 years. They usually start practicing for that specific function veryyoung, at the ages of 8-10 years and gradually move up the samba-schoolhierarchy. Many of them are direct descendants of the true founders of carnavaland samba in Brazil. The couples develop their skills and experience, hoping oneday to belong to become the couple number 1, from one of the 12 most
http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schools/gres-unidos-da-tijuca-2010-r-tijuca-unidos-samba-schoolhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schools/gres-unidos-da-tijuca-2010-r-tijuca-unidos-samba-schoolhttp://diegomendes.multiply.com/http://diegomendes.multiply.com/http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://diegomendes.multiply.com/http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schools/gres-unidos-da-tijuca-2010-r-tijuca-unidos-samba-school


3/4

important samba-schools of Rio. The achievement of these positions wouldnaturally bring them fame and glory.

First Couple is what we define as the number 1 Mestre Sala and Porta-Bandeira ( Flag-bearer) ofa samba-school. Here we see Ana Paula and Robson from Imperio Serrano Samba

School, getting ready to enter Rios Sambadrome

Photo Credit: Diogo Mendes

Now some final facts:

Today, due to the professionalization of Brazilian Carnival, we can findspecific teachings for this type of choreography ( Samba-host &Porta-Bandeiraroutines), where they can enhance their dance, artistic, and evenacting skills.

In a majorsamba-schoolparade, you can have up to 3 couples of Mestre-Sala / Porta-Bandeira per school. The official carnival judges naturally onlyrate the best couple and logically the most qualified of the school, calledappropriately the first couple".

The second and even third couples also play significant roles during theofficial contest. They are the future generations of these specific functionsand take the opportunity of the official event to gain experience, charisma,graciousness so that one day they can become couple number 1.
http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/events/map-rio-janeiro-r-mapa-sambodromo-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/events/map-rio-janeiro-r-mapa-sambodromo-brazilhttp://diegomendes.multiply.com/http://diegomendes.multiply.com/http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/porta-bandeira-de-escolas-de-samba-carnaval-of-brazilhttp://diegomendes.multiply.com/http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/events/map-rio-janeiro-r-mapa-sambodromo-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schools


4/4

Today, the contracts of these professionals have increased significantly interms of pay, sincesamba-schoolswill always try to have the best SambaHosts, to make sure they obtain the perfect score for this contest criterion.

The Mestre Salacostumecan also cost up to US$ 20.000,00 or more peryear.

Some Samba-Hosts have their sisters as their partners.

Below we see Unidos da Tijuca Mestre Sala- Marquinhos!
http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schoolshttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/samba-costumes-in-the-carnival-of-rio-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/samba-costumes-in-the-carnival-of-rio-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/samba-costumes-in-the-carnival-of-rio-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/samba-costumes-in-the-carnival-of-rio-brazilhttp://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/samba_schools

mestre sala brazil carnival

Documents