the rise of the samba schools marked the emergence of a new and populist carnaval de rua.  

inspired by the early success of deixa falar, samba schools started to spring up in rio de janeiro, and leagues of samba schools soon after, and the first competitions between the schools began.

from the moment carnaval ends, until the beginning of the next year's festivities, the escolas de samba are hard at work putting their spectacle together.

a theme - the enredo - is chosen and an original samba song is written for the performers to sing during the parade.