Getting Ready for Brazilian Carnival

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - FEBRUARY 14: Members of Império Serrano samba school test the carry capacity of a carnival float inside the workshop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 14 February 2012. The carnival preparations start early in July or August, some 7-8 months before the main samba schools parade at the sambodrome. Samba schools hire teams of professional designers and artists who, according to the original theme selected by the school directors and then featured by the school during the parade, create allegorical floats, costumes, sculptures, music, choreography and the entire school show. However, the most of the everyday work in the carnival hangars is performed by unknown but fully dedicated samba schools members. (Photo by Jan Sochor/Latincontent/Getty Images)