The Academic Block of Baixo Augusta, one of the largest carnival groups in São Paulo, is holding its last rehearsal today (5th) before taking to the streets next Sunday (12th). Preparation takes place at Galpão Armazém do Campo, located in the Campos Elíseos neighborhood. Armazém do Campo is a commercial network for popular agrarian reform products, created seven years ago by the Landless Movement, and the shed houses political and cultural activities.
The rehearsal was the third of the block, which features names like Wilson Simoninha, handler and musical director of the group, alongside André Frateschi. This year, the block plays in the center of the circle the song “Atentos e forte”, which comes from an excerpt from the song “Divino, marvelous”, by Gal Costa. The proposal of the Academicians of Baixa Augusta refers to the need to organize, as a collective, to face the coup d’état and continue in defense of democratic culture, culture, peace and diversity in its many forms.
The block currently has actress Alessandra Negrini as queen, writer Marcelo Rubens Paiva as standard bearer and singer Tulipa Ruiz as godmother. For the warm-up of the parade, the organizers estimated an audience of 12,000 people.
Most revelers were young, but the taste for Carnival was not restricted to any age group. An example of this was retired Iraci Palheta, 83 years old, who, like every year, left mass to celebrate the popular festival – this time in the shed. “Carnival is lively, it’s relaxed,” she told Brazil Agency.
Next Sunday’s procession should depart at 2 pm, from Rua da Consolação, close to the intersection with Avenida Paulista. Free, the parade will have as guest of honor the group Olodum, which, for the first time, will make a complete presentation in a block in the carnival of São Paulo. The singers Marina Sena, Tulipa Ruiz and Céu will pay tribute to Gal Costa, who died on November 9, 2022.
