the world has been watching the carnival parades in the sambódromo for many years now - amazing floats, thousands of performers, first rate dancers, orchestras, queens, spectacular costumes, and original scores.

so, it may come as a surprise to many to discover that there are nearly another 40 samba schools that, away from the international media attention, also parade every year in rio de janeiro.

grouped in what is called the 'grupo rio', there are four groups of samba schools parading and competing against one another.