Wagner Gonçalves, the artistic director of Estácio de Sá, one of the oldest samba schools, or groups, has turned their workshop into a distribution center for food baskets. On Monday, people lined up near the school’s floats, which have not been disassembled, to collect the assistance packages. “We’re losing the art of carnival,” he said, referring to the scaled-back plans this year. “It’s a bit sad because carnival is the land of joy.”Mr. Ferreira, the researcher, said samba schools leaders are keeping their options open and their plans vague. They may put on performances outside the Sambódromo, or participate in the street parties that have become an increasingly central part of carnival.

Source: New York Times September 30, 2020 19:45 UTC