How are samba schools involved in Rio de Janeiro's Carnival?

In Rio de Janeiro, samba schools (escolas de samba) serve as vital community-based clubs and neighborhood centers that drive the city's Carnival celebrations. These organizations originated in the favelas (shantytowns) surrounding Rio, where residents gathered to develop the music and dance that define the festival.123

The involvement of these schools in Carnival is extensive and year-round:

• Preparation: Participants spend a significant portion of the year preparing for annual activities and competitions, which includes organizing thousands of dancers and musicians, constructing elaborate floats, and designing intricate costumes.2
• Performance: During Carnival, these schools showcase their work through exuberant parades. While they perform throughout the city, many schools compete at the Sambadrome, an 85,000-seat venue designed by Oscar Niemeyer.12
• Cultural Impact: By performing as ornately costumed groups, these schools have been instrumental in elevating the samba from its roots among enslaved and freed Africans to a symbol of national popularity.13