Created in 1975 in the community of Juaba, in the state of Pará, Cordão da Bicharada is a carnival parade that pays homage to the Amazon Rainforest while children dress up as animals to promote environmental awareness and species preservation, as well as lots of fun. What sets this parade apart is that the costumes are very realistic and are made with sustainable materials and leftover synthetic materials.
La Ursa (The Bear) is a Carnival play where children and adults take to the streets to sing, dance and play with the audience to collect some money. The game is believed to be an emulation of the itinerant bear tamers of 19th century Europe. This is a typical tradition from the states of Paraíba and Pernambuco, in the Brazilian Northeast.
The Bear's costume is usually composed of a jumpsuit covered in patchwork, plush or burlap sewn or tied into strips. It is essential that there is plenty of movement! The masks are always expressive and can be made from a wide range of materials such as paper mache or cardboard. Children create the music that energizes the Bear's movements to win over the audience.
Floats are nothing new, they date back to the Middle Age and are popular in various celebrations around the world. During Brazilian carnival, they are mandatory items in samba school parades. These structures are meticulously created by design, lighting, decoration and engineering teams, with giant sculptures that can reach 13 meters in height and help the school tell its story. Animals are very commonly represented in an imposing and detailed way.
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