video production's video: BRAZIL CARNIVAL GRANDE RIO PREPS Grande Rio samba school puts final touches on floats and costumes

One of Rio de Janeiro's biggest and most successful samba schools, Grande Rio, was on Monday (February 24) putting the finishing touches on the floats and costumes they hope will once again show why they are consistently one of the city's best. This year's theme of "Green Eyes Over the Sea: On the way, Marica" pays homage to the 200-year-old coastal town of Marica which is located in Rio de Janeiro state. The story Grande Rio's red-green-and white clad troupe will tell through song and dance is one of miracles and rebirth. Costume designer Katarian Valio, who has worked with Grande Rio for 15 years, was especially excited to know that famous Brazilian artists will be wearing her creations as they join Grande Rio in the Sambadrome on Sunday (March 2) night. "I feel a lot of pride because a lot of actors are going to use these outfits because I am working on the gear used by the artists. So for me it's amazing to know that they will use some that I made with my own hands. Really cool," Valio said. Grande Rio's extravagant float will also honours the beautiful voice and famous green eyes of Brazilian singer and composer Maysa Matarazzo who passed away in 1977. Grande Rio's carnival organizer and creative director, Fabio Ricardo, said that he was planning on surprising the crowds of the Sambadrome when his troupe had their chance march the stadium's avenue. "Grande Rio this year will show off a lot of innovation and varied colours on the avenue, new moulds and a new parade for carnival. We are betting on surprising the avenue this year," Ricardo said. This year commemorates the 30th year of the 78,000-seat Marques de Sapucai - known as the Sambadrome - where the city's top samba troupes will soon show off what they have been earnestly creating all year. The Rio de Janeiro carnival officially runs from the February 28 until Ash Wednesday on March 5.