Seven of Rio de Janeiro's elite samba schools danced through the specially-built Sambadrome on the first night of Latin America's most famous carnival parades. While the processions are famous for their festive atmosphere, the competition between samba schools is fierce. The competition is judged on elements such as choreography, atmosphere, organisation and singing.
The Rio Carnival officially began on Friday 9 February and lasts until 17 February, during which time the city will be teeming with hundreds of thousands of tourists who come to watch the parades and take part in raucous street processions. IBTimes UK presents photos of each samba school's carnival parade.
São Clemente drum queen Raphaela GomesPilar Olivares/ReutersSão ClementeMauro Pimentel/AFPSão ClementeSergio Moraes/ReutersSão ClementeMauro Pimentel/AFPSão ClementePilar Olivares/ReutersSão ClementeMauro Pimentel/AFPSão ClementeMauro Pimentel/AFPSão ClementeCarl de Souza/AFPCarl de Souza/AFPSão ClementeCarl de Souza/AFP
11.25pm: Vila Isabel
Vila Isabel drum queen Sabrina SatoMauro Pimentel/AFPVila Isabel drum queen Sabrina SatoCarl de Souza/AFPVila Isabel drum queen Sabrina Sato kisses another performerCarl de Souza/AFPVila IsabelPilar Olivares/ReutersVila IsabelCarl de Souza/AFPVila IsabelRicardo Moraes/ReutersVila IsabelMauro Pimentel/AFPVila IsabelPilar Olivares/ReutersVila IsabelMauro Pimentel/AFPVila IsabelCarl de Souza/AFP
00.30am: Paraíso do Tuiuti
Paraíso do TuiutiPilar Olivares/ReutersParaíso do TuiutiCarl de Souza/AFPParaíso do TuiutiPilar Olivares/ReutersParaíso do TuiutiPilar Olivares/ReutersParaíso do TuiutiRicardo Moraes/ReutersParaíso do TuiutiRicardo Moraes/ReutersParaíso do TuiutiPilar Olivares/ReutersA reveller of the Paraiso do Tuiuti samba school representing Brazilian President Michel Temer as DraculaMauro Pimentel/AFPParaíso do TuiutiMauro Pimentel/AFPParaíso do TuiutiCarl de Souza/AFP
01.35am: Grande Rio
Grande Rio drum queen Juliana PaesPilar Olivares/ReutersGrande RioSergio Moraes/ReutersGrande RioSergio Moraes/ReutersGrande RioCarl de Souza/AFPGrande RioMauro Pimentel/AFPGrande RioMauro Pimentel/AFPGrande RioMauro Pimentel/AFPGrande RioMauro Pimentel/AFPGrande RioMauro Pimentel/AFPGrande RioMauro Pimentel/AFPGrande RioMauro Pimentel/AFP
02.40am: Mangueira
Mangueira drum queen Evelyn BastosBrazilian samba singer and songwriter Alcione parades with the Mangueira samba schoolMauro Pimentel/AFPMangueiraMauro Pimentel/AFPMangueiraMauro Pimentel/AFPMangueiraMauro Pimentel/AFPMangueiraMauro Pimentel/AFPMangueiraRicardo Moraes/ReutersMangueiraMauro Pimentel/AFPMangueiraMauro Pimentel/AFPMangueiraMauro Pimentel/AFP
03.45am: Mocidade
Mocidade drum queen Camila SilvaPilar Olivares/ReutersMocidadePilar Olivares/ReutersMocidadeRicardo Moraes/ReutersMocidadePilar Olivares/ReutersMocidadePilar Olivares/ReutersMocidadeRicardo Moraes/ReutersMocidadePilar Olivares/ReutersMocidadePilar Olivares/ReutersMocidadeCarl de Souza/AFPMocidadeCarl de Souza/AFPMocidadeMauro Pimentel/AFP
Tomorrow's carnival parades will feature six more samba schools: Unidos da Tijuca, Portela, União da Ilha, Salgueiro, Imperatriz Leopoldinense and Beija-Flor. Once all 13 schools have paraded, the judges will choose the best six, which will compete in the Champions' Parade on Saturday (17 February).
The weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday (14 February) see Carnival celebrations in cities around the world, including Tenerife, Venice and Ivrea.
