This is the stage for what many consider
to be the greatest show on earth,
the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro.
But this February, things are unusually quiet
at the Sapucaí Sambadrome.
Carnival has been canceled for the first time
in over a century because of the pandemic.
And samba dancers like Bianca Monteiro have no stage,
no audience, and no job.
Carnival is the most important festival in Brazil,
with four days of celebration and parades marking
the beginning of Lent,
the 40-day period before Easter.
And Rio's event is a championship of sorts.
About a dozen elite samba schools put on elaborate parades,
each lasting more than an hour,
across the two-night competition.
The winner takes home around half a million dollars
and the sought-after title.
It's a big business that brought close
to a billion dollars to Rio's economy in 2020.
Thousands of people prepare year-round for the event,
making costumes and ﬂoats,
writing music, and planning choreography.
How are these people holding up?
Belisario Cunha has been creating Carnival costumes
for almost 30 years.
He usually works for six months
for one of the samba schools,
and the rest of the year making designs
for international events.
He even got to meet and dress Beyoncé for a music video.
He used to employ around 40 people in his workshop.
But without Carnival,
he was forced to let everyone go.
Belisario went from a gross income
of $30,000 from 2020's Carnival
to close to nothing now.
He's getting by with the help of friends.
Bianca is the drum queen for Portela,
in charge of leading the marching band
through the Sambadrome.
It's one of the most important roles of the parade
only trusted upon the most skilled samba dancers.
Her samba school was crowned champion 22 times.
This year though,
she's giving online samba classes
from her living room instead.
Bianca lives with her mother,
who works as a nurse.
But her paycheck was also cut in half
because she took medical leave last year.
Little by little,
work for 2022's parade is starting in the headquarters
of the reigning champion, Viradouro.
Rio de Janeiro has been here before.
In 1918, the Spanish flu swept through the city
and decimated the population.
But it led to one of the most iconic Carnivals ever
the following year —
and inspired Viradouro's theme for 2022.
2022 holds similar hope despite all losses,
financial and emotional.