Carnivale in Rio

Life imitates art, or at least a live dancer resembles a sculpture, on a carnival float in Rio.  (Ricardo Moraes / Associated Press)

Surrounded by jumbo shrimp, dancers in saucy dress perform on a Viradouro samba school float during carnival.  (Ricardo Moraes / Associated Press)

As queen of the drums section for the Mangueira samba school’s performers, Gracyanne Barbosa sets the beat.  (Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)

Viradouro samba school drummers help maintain the heartbeat of carnival by snapping out dance rhythms for performers and audience members along the parade.  (Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)

Thousands of spectators in the stands at Rio’s Sambodrome are treated to an audio and visual feast of light, color, sound and dance as immense carnival floats, such as the one from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school, pass by.  (Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)

Viradouro samba school dancers dazzle onlookers with swirls of scarlet and gold in Rio de Janeiro on Fat Tuesday.  (Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)

Earth tones, echoes of an ethnic past and extravagant jewelry set the tone for Viradouro samba school performers in Rio’s carnival parade.  (Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)

A pooch shows off his own impressive paw work while winging it amid dancers in Rio’s carnival parade.  (Ricardo Moraes / Associated Press)

Ornate headdresses and shimmering costumes of aqua and gold almost glow in the dusk during Rio’s carnival parade.  (Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)

In stark contrast to the rainbow of costumes, floats and dancers surrounding him, a dark, earthy character rears his head during the carnival parade in Rio.  (Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)

Viradouro samba school float performers appear to be braving the elements during the Sambodrome carnival parade in Rio.  (Natacha Pisarenko / Associated Press)