A Londoner is set to make history by becoming the first non-Brazilian dancer to lead the Rio Carnival.
Samantha Flores has been chosen as the main dancer on the front float, a position which has been reserved for Brazilian performers for all of its 78-year history.
Now, the 37-year-old Brit is set to saunter her way into the record books on Friday at the biggest carnival in the world, with more than two million people in attendance.
Despite having no professional dance training, she will stand atop the prestigious lead float belonging to the Ingenieros de Tijuca samba school.
Samantha Flores has been chosen as the main dancer on the front float, a position which has been reserved for Brazilian performers for all of its 78-year history
The 37-year-old Brit is set to saunter her way into the record books on Friday at the biggest carnival in the world, with more than two million people in attendance
Despite having no professional dance training, Ms Flores (right) will stand atop the prestigious lead float belonging to the Ingenieros de Tijuca samba school
Ms Flores will fulfill an ambition she has had since arriving in Rio more than a decade ago, after giving up her job as a PR executive in Kentish Town, north London.
She left behind her Jewish family for a new life in Brazil after going on a ‘girls’ trip’ in 2006 and falling in love with Rio de Janeiro.
She told The Times: ‘It was literally love at first sight. Within six months I had quit my job and moved here.’
‘I do sometimes think ‘what’s a nice Jewish girl who used to just love a dance, nothing more, doing here?’
Ms Flores said she fell in love with Rio after visiting the city during a girls’ holiday in 2006
Ms Flores left behind her Jewish family for a new life in Brazil after going on a ‘girls’ trip’ in 2006 and falling in love with Rio de Janeiro
Ms Flores will fulfill an ambition she has had since arriving in Rio more than a decade ago, after giving up her job as a PR executive in Kentish Town, north London
The Brit has performed at several carvinals throughout Brazil, but this will be her first year as the lead performer
Despite having no professional dance training, the 37-year-old is set to break records this weekend
‘I do sometimes think ‘what’s a nice Jewish girl who used to just love a dance, nothing more, doing here?’
The 2018 Rio Carnival starts a week before Ash Wednesday and runs from this Friday until Wednesday. The Winners’ Parade will be on Saturday, February 17.
It is considered one of the biggest carnivals in the world with millions of people watching from across the globe.
The Rio Carnival samba schools exhibit their parades in one of the many Sambadromes across Brazil.
The Rio Sambadrome is called Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí and the carnival has taken place here since 1984.
Carnival-goers can also find a street party outside the Sambadrome but will need to go to Cinelândia Square in Rio’s Centro for the largest organised street dance.
The 2018 Rio Carnival starts a week before Ash Wednesday and runs from this Friday until Wednesday