If you're heading to Rio de Janeiro in the run-up to Carnival, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on all of the carnival fun! Carnival fever hits the city long before the official start of Carnival in Rio, and the preparations for the samba parades start months in advance. The great thing is that there are plenty of opportunities to see the samba schools in action ahead of their big parades in the Sambadrome. There are two ways of attending a samba school rehearsal before the main event.

[caption id="attachment_2322" align="aligncenter" width="610"]Samba Dancer | Samba School Rehearsals Catch the carnival fever before it even starts by attending a samba school rehearsal! / Source[/caption]

1. Attend a Carnival Rehearsal at a Samba School

The samba schools start practicing for Carnival way in advance. This means composing songs, dances, creating the costumes and building the floats. Some of the big schools open up their doors to visitors to come witness a carnival rehearsal at the samba school, and even take part in some of the action!

Each school has a particular samba night where the public can attend, watch the rehearsal and then join in afterwards. Some of the schools you can visit include Unidos de Tijuca in São Cristóvão and Salguiero in Tijuca. The rehearsal run from August right up until the start of Carnival.

[caption id="attachment_2318" align="aligncenter" width="610"]Samba School Rehearsal | Carnival in Rio Attend a rehearsal at one of the city's Samba Schools, like Mangueira / Source[/caption]

2. Watch a Samba School Rehearsal at the Sambadrome

The runway, the stage, and the stadium of Carnival in Rio is the Sambadrome, or Sambódromo. This venue was especially built for the samba parade. It is located in downtown Rio, near Praça Onze and the central subway stations.

If you can't make it to carnival itself, this is the next best thing, being able to watch the performers practice here and get a sneak peek at what the greatest samba school's have in store for this year's carnival parade in Rio. The best part? It's free!

[caption id="attachment_2319" align="aligncenter" width="610"]Sambadrome Technical Rehearsal | Samba School Parade Watching a technical rehearsal at the Sambadrome gives you a taste of Carnival! / Source[/caption] Below is the schedule for the 2015 samba school rehearsals at the Sambódromo in Rio de Janeiro:

January:

Rehearsals start at 20:00 - 20:30, and the second school 21:30-22:00. Saturday, 10 January
  • Curcica
  • Império Serrano
Sunday, 11 January
  • Viradouro
  • Vila Isabel
Saturday 17 January
  • Império da Tijuca
  • Cubango
Sunday 18 January
  • Mocidade
  • Mangueira
Saturday 24 January
  • Porto da Pedra
  • Unidos de Padre Miguel
Sunday 25 January
  • Beija-Flor
  • Grande Rio
Sunday 31 January
  • São Clemente
  • Imperatriz Leopoldinense

February

Rehearsals start at 19:30. Sunday, 01 February
  • União da Ilha
  • Portela
  • Salgueiro
Sunday, 08 February
  • Sound and light test with the 2014 champions: Unidos da Tijuca
[caption id="attachment_2324" align="aligncenter" width="610"]Sambadrome Parade The Sambadrome transforms when the samba schools parade. / source[/caption]

Whichever option you choose, make sure you don't miss out on the pre-carnival experience. The city buzzes with energy, and all cariocas know that the year doesn't really start until the end of Carnival!

For more information about Carnival 2015 or tours and activities in Rio de Janeiro, visit rdj4u.com!