Strawberry Woman at the Rio de Janeiro Carnival Parade

Although we still have more than 160 days to go for Rio 2009 Carnival, backstage parade negotiations for technical posts and drum queens are at full speed. Didn't understand? Let me explain you: Carnival in Rio has several activities throughout the year, but some of its highlights before the official Carnival Parade, are the samba school theme definition and drum queen contests. Both of these activities are organized by Rio´s Samba Schools, between carnival ´s official end and the parade in the following year.

Over the last years, the Rio Carnival has become more and more professional, when it comes to the grand parade at Rio´s sambadrome. Samba Schools today hire a full range of professionals, from musical directors to drum queens that make sure their parade shines in a glittering harmony. These artists specialized themselves in what is known to be the worlds largest and most magical live show - the Carnival Parade in Rio.

Today, just like soccer or basketball players, these professionals became extremely precious assets to a Samba School in Rio. Some of these professions include float engineers, stylists, hairdressing artists, artisans, drum queens, flag bearers, costume designers, musicians, and general managers. In the past, most professionals were linked to a specific samba school or community. Today it is not rare to see an elite stylist being hired by a major Samba School, and being paid with big money. Samba schools sometimes receive hard cash with grants and sponsors, which makes all of these negotiations possible. Last month for example, one of the major Samba Schools in Rio called "Beija-Flor" announced its possible partnership for the 2009 Rio Carnival with Anglo-Dutch consumer product giant Unilever.

For this year, a series of negotiations are already taking place. In the beginning of the year, Max Lopes, one of the greatest Rio de Janeiro carnival directors was announced as the new general Carnival style artist for "Porto da Pedra Samba School". Another recent negotiation was the hiring of Roberto Szaniecki by the traditional "Mangueira Samba School", as carnival art director.

Aside from what the carnival community calls "technical posts", many of the Samba Schools concentrate their efforts in trying to find a high flying celebrity for the Drum Queen position. This is notoriously one of flashiest positions within a Samba School.

Since the end of the 2008 carnival, several new Drum Queens were announced as possible candidates for traditional samba schools like "Viradouro", "Salgueiro", and "Porto da Pedra Samba School". Some samba school presidents use this media frenzy and mystery to enhance and promote their samba school. For now, we have a confirmation of the Drum Queen post for "Salgueiro Samba School", which will be dancer and model Viviane Araújo. Also, Thatiana Pagung, carnival blogger and one of the most famous Drum Queens in Rio, was already confirmed as Drum Queen for "Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel Samba School".

In a samba school called "Porto da Pedra" though, we are watching a tough competition with several contenders. At least five different Rio muses are being considered by the samba school´s presidency, including the daughter of the legendary "Girl of Ipanema", Ticiane Pinheiro, for the glamorous post of Drum Queen.

Other candidates for "Porto da Pedra Samba School' Drum Queen post are Iris Stefanelli - model and TV show presenter; Luciana Picorelli - model, Andressa Soares a.k.a. "Garota Melancia" ("Watermelon Girl"), and recent Brazil dance muse "Mulher Moranguinho - Ellen Cardoso", called by the nickname of "Strawberry Woman". It seems like the 2009 Rio Carnival Parade will be exciting to watch with all of these Drum Queens and style artists.