BLOG
Interview with Nicolas Fabre
Allez Samba Rio takes you behind the scenes of Nicolas Fabre’s passion: The Rio Carnival.
Allez Samba Rio: When did your passion for Brazil start? And why?
Allez Samba Rio: What do you like about the Rio Carnival?
I like the Rio Carnival in a double way. The first I have the chance to be present a month or so before the carnival and therefore I can attend various events related to the preparations. They are varied: street and quadra tests, through the intimate rehearsals in sector 11, or the shootings of the Globo à la cidade do samba. Thus I can live at the very heart of the commitment of the Cariocas for their carnival and their love for samba and its poetry.
The second is D-Day, the day of the parades, an indescribable sensation that invades me because the schools reveal themselves. The richness of the costumes, the inventiveness of the carnivals, the total joy of the participants and the total emotions, we cannot remain insensitive to these emotions where literally the inhabitants of the community vibrate at the entrance of the Sapucai. Some moments remain forever etched in my memory and yet they are complete strangers.
The finesse of execution of the work on the floats, the wild dancers to the rhythms of the bateria and its sonic power with the sambas that make vibrate the stadium and the general joy…. We must recognize that the Brazilian carnival is the Rio carnival.
Allez Samba Rio: Have you ever parade? If so, with which samba school?
Allez Samba Rio: When you want to parade you tell us and we will organize everything for you. Otherwise what do you like to do when you are in Rio?
I had already visited Rio for the first time in 2013, walking around the city. Now the activities turn around the carnival of course, with some moments of rest at the beach and some walks especially on the views of the city. Moreover, I try to complete my visit of unusual tourist places. I love walking the streets of the city, Rio is humming, feels, there are certainly monuments, but Rio remains above all its inhabitants and their costume delusions in the “blocos de rua” too.
Allez Samba Rio:What is your website and why did you create it?
My site is https://carnavalrio.eu/ The idea came to me that for many tourists the Rio de Janeiro carnival is surrounded by clichés but also by ignorance about the event. In addition, for a layperson or samba enthusiast, it is quite difficult to get information. There are plenty of events off parades where you can be close to the carnival actors. I was a novice (and I still am), but I would like to pass on this passion and what I felt about the event by giving information that can be useful to everyone, if you go to Rio during the festivities. My advice comes from my own experience and I want to share it with everyone as I share my photos.
Allez Samba Rio: What advice could you give to those who have never been to Rio?
Do not hesitate to talk and discuss with the Cariocas, always ready to help. Man or woman, carnival is for you as much to see as to parade. Samba is communicative and we cannot remain insensitive to the sounds of rhythmists. Rio has this sweetness of life that I like.