Performers from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Hassan Ammar / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81102

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Performers from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school vied for the title of the year's best in an over-the-top, all-night-long Carnival parade at the city's iconic Sambadrome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Hassan Ammar / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81103

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A performer from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81104

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Revelers of Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school perform during the second night of Carnival parades at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81105

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A dancer from Rio de Janeiro's samba school Vila Isabel performs along the Sambadrome on the second day of the traditional city's samba school parade.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO SCORZA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81106

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People sing while performers from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Silvia Izquierdo / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81107

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A reveler of Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school performs during the second night of Carnival parades at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81108

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A performer from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81109

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Performers from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Silvia Izquierdo / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81110

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Rio de Janeiro's samba school Vila Isabel performs along the Sambadrome on the second day of the traditional city's samba school parade.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO SCORZA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=81111

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Revelers of Portela group perform during the first night of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO SCORZA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80975

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Performers from the Portela samba school take part in carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80976

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Revelers of Salgueiro samba school perform on the first night of Carnaval.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO SCORZA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80977

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A performer from Unidos da Tijuca dances on a float during Carnaval celebrations at the Sambadrome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80978

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Performers from Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel participate in Carnaval celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80979

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A reveler from Unidos da Tijuca gyrates atop a float during the first night of Carnaval at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP / Getty Images

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Members of Salgueiro take part in a Carnaval parade at the Samadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: FERNANDO BIZERRA / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80981

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Brazilian TV star Juliana Alves performs during the first night of Carnaval at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80982

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A reveler from Unidos da Tijuca performs during the first night of Carnaval at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80983

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Members of Uniao da Ilhia dance atop a float during the first night of Carnaval at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80984

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Are those Blue Brothers outfits? Perhaps. Revelers from Uniao da Ilhia go about their mission during the first night of Carnaval at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80985

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Members of Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel take part in Rio de Janeiro event.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO LACERDA / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80986

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Wild colors are a staple of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, as evidenced by these performers from the Portela group.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80987

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Performers from the Unidos da Tijuca group dance during Carnaval celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Hassan Ammar / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80988

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Performers from the Unidos da Tijuca group parade during Carnaval celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Hassan Ammar / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80989

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Performers from the Portela group parade during Carnaval celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Hassan Ammar / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80990

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Drum queen Camilia Silva, from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel group, dances during a Carnaval parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Hassan Ammar / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80991

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A symbol of the United States gets the Carnaval treatment from he Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel group at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80992

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A performer from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel group parades on a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Austin American-Statesman

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80993

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The Inocentes de Belford-Roxo group sends it float out on the first night of Carnaval at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro. Inocentes paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of South Korean immigration to Brazil.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO SCORZA / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=80994

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