The technical rehearsals of the Samba Schools of the Special Group of Rio de Janeiro, which usually attract a large audience to the Passarela do Samba, in Marquês de Sapucaí, in the city center, will begin on the 25th. The first group will be Unidos de Padre Miguel, who, by becoming champion in the Gold Series in 2024, won the right to join the Special Group, considered the elite of Rio’s carnival.
In the first stage, until February 15th, the associations will show part of what they are preparing for Rio Carnival 2025, always on Saturdays, starting at 7pm, with free entry. The program on this day responds to a request from members, who until last year, after parading on Sundays, left the Sambadrome late and had to work early on Monday. Not to mention the difficulties they encountered with transport on the way home.
From February 20th, a few days before the official parades, schools will return for a second, unprecedented technical rehearsal. On these days, the clubs will carry out light and sound tests on the Samba Passarela and will have the same sound and lighting systems as the official presentation.
First phase calendar:
Day 25/1
7pm – Unidos de Padre Miguel
8:30 pm – Unidos da Tijuca
10pm – Independent Youth
Day 1/2
7pm – Paraíso do Tuiuti
8:30 pm – Hummingbird
10pm – Hose
Day 8/2
7pm – Vila Isabel
8:30 pm – Portela
10pm – Grande Rio
Day 15/2
7pm – Salgueiro
8:30 pm – Imperatriz Leopoldinense
10pm – Viradouro
Second phase (light and sound test):
Day 20/2
8pm – Unidos de Padre Miguel
9:30 pm – Unidos da Tijuca
11pm – Independent Youth
Day 21/2 (light and sound test):
8pm – Paraíso do Tuiuti
9:30 pm – Hummingbird
11pm – Hose
Day 22/2 (light and sound test):
6pm – Wash
8pm – Vila Isabel
9:30 pm – Portela
11pm – Salgueiro
Day 23/2 (light and sound test):
8pm – Grande Rio
9:30 pm – Imperatriz Leopoldinense
11pm – Viradouro
