Irmãs de samba: um breve estudo dos papéis femininos na Escola de Samba

Abstract

Since the first decades of this century, women have taken prominent part in the history of Samba in Rio de Janeiro. The gist of this research are the historically relevant female roles in the universe of the samba schools. The condition of women in this cultural context reveals functions and images that make it possible to find other meanings for the historical process of creation and transformation of these samba schools. Significant relations between the world of daily activities and the world of partying, the world of labor and the samba school parade, routine and ritual, life and dream lead to meaninful spaces such as the home of the "Tias" and the "barracão", which prepare for the magnificent parade. Through her work, the woman multiplies and transforms her roles by creating, supporting, planning, executing and managing a samba school. It is a long history where daily activities and art mingle. In this context of different spaces and participants the popular and the erudite are put together and permeated with music, dancing, religion and theatrical plasticity. In about a century of history, the samba school has served as a vehicle of continuity and change, a form of art which associates tradition, mediation and transformation.