Brazil Carnival, feel the carnival
Isabel Vila - GRES Vila Isabel Samba School
The G.R.E.S. Unidos da Vila Isabel Samba School was founded on April 4th 1946 by Antonio Fernandes da Silveira, popularly known as “Mr.China”.
The idea to create the samba-school on this traditional Rio neighborhood arose on a Carnaval Sunday, when Mr. China was chatting with a couple of friends in a bar located at Praça Sete in Vila Isabel neighborhood. He saw members of “Acadêmicos da Vila” street group which was passing by, and thought about how it resembled a small Samba School. This image awoke in him the desire to found a true samba school.
Phtoto Credit: Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro - Jaime Silva
Later, many revelers started to come from several local street groups from that region such as “Acadêmicos da Vila,” the “Dono Maria Tataia” and the street group of “Morro dos Macacos”. Unidos de Vila Isabel Samba School decided then to use as its official colors, the blue and white of a samba school Mr. China used to be part of. The first rehearsals occurred on his own backyard, at Senador Nabuco Street, and he became the school’s first president.
Antônio Fernandes da Silveira, Ailton Cleber, Antonio Rodrigues (Carpenters Tuninho), Ari Barbosa, Cesso da Silva, Joaquim José Rodrigues (Quinzinho), Osmar Mariano, Paulo Gomes de Aquino (Paulo Brazão) and Servan Heitor de Carvalho were also amongst the samba-school´s first founding fathers.
Below, the 2004 Flag-Bearer - Porta Bandeira Veronica and Samba-Host / Mestre Sala Marcio
On its first parade, on the year of 1947, the Unidos de Vila Isabel Samba-School paraded with the plot-theme called “From Slave to Queen”, having only 100 revelers: 27 percussionists, 13 Baianas, alongside other 50 people, some of them part of the Board of Directors.
In 1956, the theme “Three Epochs” was elected vice champion, making the school rise to the first group. In 1960, the samba-school was awarded champion for the first time, on the third group with the theme “Poet of the Saves, written by Carnival Director Geraldo Babão.
The Unidos de Vila Isabel´s Group of Composers had as its initial members the following composers: Paulo Brazão, Tião Graúna, Severo Gomes de Aquino (Paulo Brazão’s brother, known as Birica on the Samba Circles), Rosário, Zezé Fonfon, Simplício, Rodolfo de Souza and Djalma Fernandes da Silveira.
With the growth and development of the samba-school as a whole, new composers joined Vila Isabel, such as Martinho da Vila, Ailton Rocha, Paulinho da Vila, Gemeu, Jonas Rodrigues, Jarbas Fernandes da Silveira, Ciro Baiano, Mariano Luz, Zé Branco, Irany (Green Eye), Hilton Alfinito (Guadalupe), Aluisio Machado, Arroz and David da Vila.
Below, the new Carnival Queen of Drums - Barbosa, Gracyanne for Vila Isabel Samba School. President Moisés says she will be one of the best Queen ever at the Sambadrome.
Credit: Roberto Filho - Ag. News
In 1967, with the theme “Carnaval of Illusions,” Vila Isabel United introduced color variations to the samba costumes, providing a tasteful show, without getting too far from the basic colors of the samba-school, the blue and white.
Antonio Fernandes da Silveira Mr. China, died in 1976 at 76 years of age. In 1979, three years after, Vila Isabel Samba School became champion of the 1B Group with the plot theme of “Carlos Machado’s Golden Years.” The following year the school was 2nd place at the 1A Group with the theme “Dream of a Dream”.
However it was only in 1983, with Ailton Guimarães Jorge as President (Captain Guimarães, one of LIESA’s – Independent league of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro – founding father and for many times president) and with the support of directors Hélio Mota, Wagner Tavares Araújo and Jorge Perlingeiro, that the school was restructured and placed at Rio´s Carnival Special Group.
Below, Vila Isabel Opening Wing in 2007
Phtoto Credit: Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro - Jaime Silva
This evolution process began with the development of the theme-plot “Roots”, from 1987, which was awarded several prizes, including the famous local “Estandartes de Ouro”. In 1988, Vila Isabel United finally won the title of the Special Group of Rio´s Carnival, with the plot-theme “Kizomba, a Race’s Feast”. It was a memorable parade greeted until today remembered by many samba & Carnaval lovers.
Eighteen years after the first championship and during the first management of President Wilson Vieira Alves, commonly known as Moisés, in 2006, Vila Isabel United conquered its second championship. The plot theme “Soy Loco por ti, América: Vila sings the Latinity” by historian Alex Varela and of the Carnaval Producer Alexandre Louzada, became an instant hit at the Sambadrome stands, bringing everyone to pure delight!
Famous Historic and Today Personalities from Vila Isabel Samba School:
• Ruça – Nicia Canindé
• Martinho da Vila
• Leticia Spiller
• Mart´ nália
• Juliana Alves
• Paulo Brazão
• Olício Alves
Photo Credit: Danielle Cezar - Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro
Vila Isabel Samba School has also been famous for its legendary Drum Queens and Carnival Muses such as, Viviane Araújo, Kelly Key, Natalia Guimarães, former Miss Brazil, and Adriana Perett – Model.
Vila Isabel 2010 Technical Summary
Colors – Blue and White
Rehersal Court – 382, Avenida 28 de Setembro, Vila Isabel
Theme- “Noël: The presence of Vila’s Poet”
President - Wilson Vieira Alves (Moisés)
Carnaval Producer - Alex de Souza
Drum Section Master – Mestre Átila
Drums Queen - Gracyanne Barbosa
Samba Host and Flag Carrier couple - Julinho and Rute
Performer - Tinga
Carnaval Director – Carnaval Committee
Opening Wing Coreographer - Marcelo Missalidis
Official WebSite - www.gresunidosdevilaisabel.com.br
Below, the Official Flag of Vilsa Isabel.
Vila Isabel 2010 Lyrics - Samba Enredo Vila 2010
Se um dia na orgia me chamassem
Com saudades perguntassem
Por onde anda Noel?
Com toda minha fé responderia
Vaga na noite e no dia
Vive na terra e no céu
Seu sambas muito curti
Com a cabeça ao léu
Sua presença senti
No ar de Vila Isabel
Com o sedutor não bebi
Nem fui com ele ao bordel
Mas sei que está presente
Com a gente nesse laurel
Veio ao planeta com os auspícios de um cometa
Naquele ano da revolta da chibata
A sua vida foi de notas musicais
Seus lindos sambas animavam carnavais
Brincava em blocos com boêmios e mulatas
Subia morros sem preconceito sociais
Foi um grande chororô
Quando o gênio descansou
Todo o samba lamentou ô ô ô
Que enorme dissabor
Foi-se o nosso professor
A Lindaura soluçou
E a dama do cabaré não dançou
Fez a passagem pro espaço sideral
Mas está vivo neste nosso carnaval
Também presentes Cartola
E o Bando dos Tangarás
Lamartine, Ismael, Aracy e outros mais
E a fantasia que se usa
Pra sambar com o menestrel
Tem a energia da nossa Vila Isabel"
by Compositor: Martinho da Vila
