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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST
Revellers from the Beija-Flor samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

Elite samba schools paraded in Rio de Janeiro's newly renovated Sambadrome on Sunday to kick off Brazil's annual carnival.

As many as 8,50,000 tourists descend on Rio for the five-day-long carnival.

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST
Revellers from the Porto da Pedra samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

Hundreds of thousands of people turned out to participate in the open-air dance parties, with people singing to a medley of carnival songs.

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST
Revellers from the Porto da Pedra samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

The performers with their flamboyant costumes and theatrical make-up enthralled the crowds that had come to see up to 5,000 samba troupe dancers romping the streets of Rio. 

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST
Revellers from the Porto da Pedra samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

The carnival, which is the grandest holiday in Brazil, draws millions to watch the parade that usually starts shortly after sundown and doesn't finish until dawn.

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST
A reveller from the Porto da Pedra samba school parades on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

Top samba schools perform dances at the carnival and they are pitted against one another in competition to be Carnival Champions.

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

Revellers from the Mocidade samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome.

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

A reveller from the Mocidade samba school parades on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome 

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

Drum queen Antonia Fontenelle of the Mocidade samba school dances on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

A reveller from the Imperatriz samba school parades on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome.

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

Revellers celebrate Carnival by covering themselves with mud from mangrove swamps in Curuca, where the Amazon River pours into the Atlantic. 

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

Drum queen Patricia Nery of the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school dances on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

A reveller from the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school parades on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

A reveller from the Vila Isabel samba school parades on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome 

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

A reveller from the Beija-Flor samba school parades on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome 

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Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

Revellers from the Beija-Flor samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome

Click NEXT to see more PHOTOS...

Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

Revellers from the Beija-Flor samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome 

Click NEXT to see more PHOTOS...

Sizzling dancers spice up Brazil carnival

Last updated on: February 22, 2012 09:01 IST

Revellers from the Beija-Flor samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome