Samba schools parades pay tributes to big names, histories, and icons. The Harry Potter series, that marked generations and revolutionized the literary and cinematographic market, could not be left out. On Saturday (2), Potter and Voldemort paraded in an allegorical car of Império da Casa Verde, in São Paulo. But that was not the only time that the magic of J.K. Rowling was spread at the Sambadrome. In the mood for revelry, POTTERISH recalls the most remarkable apparitions of the franchise in the Carnival of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
By Alícia Marédi
Edited by: Pedro Martins and Rodrigo Cavalheiro
In 2013, the School Dragões da Real took the characters of many fantasy stories to the Sambadrome Anhembi, in São Paulo. Among them Harry Potter, Dragon Ball Z, and Dungeons & Dragons, besides the artwork from J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of The Rings) and the legendary Count Dracula. With bright colors and whimsical costumes, the ala that honored Harry Potter was composed by people dressed in Hogwarts uniforms and wearing the iconic Harry’s rounded glasses.
In 2011, the School Unidos da Tijuca honored the 50 biggest movies in history, bringing allegorical cars with special effects to the Marquês de Sapucaí, in Rio de Janeiro.
The main attraction was a big table at the Great Hall, with around 30 students and Albus Dumbledore that made the table fluctuate eight meters above the ground. Around the car, there was a young boy sitting on a broom wielding a wand, Wizard’s Chess pieces, and several Hogwarts castle towers, and owls carrying letters from Hogwarts in the beaks.
In 2010, the School Acadêmicos do Salgueiro, from Rio de Janeiro, had Reading as their main theme. At the ala “Hurricane”, dancers were dressed up as Harry Potter. The J.K Rowling series also had its own car, with realistic replicas of Wizard’s Chess and a giant Time-Turner surrounded by Acromantulas, Aragog’s species. In addition to Harry Potter and other contemporary fictions, the School took to the Marquês de Sapucaí the main literary styles, portraying stories of heroes and gods, period romances, fairy tales and poetry of the conquests of Portuguese navigation.
Collaborated: Evadro Lira (video) and Isabela Imay (art)
Translated into English by Paola Galiano
Edited by Aline Michel
