central to the festivities are the samba schools which organize the grand dance performances and build the allegory cars. one of the most well known of these schools is the g. r. e. s. beija-flor (hummingbird).

currently among the very best of the samba schools, it was first established in 1948 by a carnival group from the municipality of nilópolis (a city in the state of rio de janeiro), but only turned into a true samba organization in 1953.

after several years among the lowest ranks in the carnival festivities, it was finally promoted to the main group in 1973.