LIFESTYLE

From Samba to Soul at Rio's Carnival

By Fox News
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In this photo taken Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, samba dancer Diana Prado performs during a carnival parade at central station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Prado spends her daylight hours working as a supervisor at a call center. At night, she is a samba dancer, or "passista," as they're known in Portuguese. Prado made her Carnival debut at age 19, after auditioning for a spot with the Sao Clemente, one of 13 top-tier schools that will compete for the annual titles at the Sambadrome this weekend. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

Revellers many dressed in their comic superhero of choice take part in the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

In this photo taken Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, samba dancer Diana Prado, right, is with her costume as she prepares for a carnival parade at central station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Though samba dancers, or "passistas," as they're known in Portuguese, are unquestionably the star attractions of the world's most iconic Carnival celebrations, they're not on the payroll of the samba school they represent. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

A dancer from the X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) (AP2013)

A couple dressed as clowns participate in the "Cordao da Bola Preta" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

Birds fly over a float of the Aguia de Ouro samba school during the carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) (AP2013)

Dancers from the Dragoes da Real samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) (AP2013)

A dancer from the Dragoes da Real samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

People dance during the "Ceu na Terra" block carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) (AP2013)

In this photo taken Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, samba dancer Diana Prado, right, warms up for a carnival parade at central station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A call center supervisor by day the 27-year-old's double life is split down the middle between the glitz and glam, feathers and body paint of Carnival and the workaday office reality of head-sets and cubicles. Rio de Janeiro samba school dancers are the star attractions of the world's most iconic Carnival celebrations. But they're not on the payroll of the samba groups they represent - and many have to work decidedly unglamorous jobs, serving as maids or secretaries to make ends meet. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

Revelers pack the streets during the "Cordao da Bola Preta" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

Revelers dressed as cat-woman joke as they pose for photos during the "Cordao da Bola Preta" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

A reveler dressed as superhero The Mask, shows off his moves in the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

In this photo taken Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, "passista," or samba dancer Diana Prado performs in a carnival parade at central station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A call center supervisor by day the 27-year-old's double life is split down the middle, between the glitz and glam, feathers and body paint of Carnival and the workaday office reality of head-sets and cubicles. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (AP2013)

A reveler poses for photos during the "Cordao da Bola Preta" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)