Rio Carnival

Members of the Renascer Jacarepagua samba school perform during the Sambadrome parade's first night, in Rio de Janeiro. Rio's two nights of famously extravagant Carnival parades began in a burst of fireworks and to the cheers of festival goers who have been partying on the streets for days. (Vanderlei Almeida, AFP)

The Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school parades during carnival celebrations. (Felipe Dana, AP)

A dancer from the Mocidade samba school swings from a float during the Carnival. (Felipe Dana, AP)

A reveller of Imperatriz samba school performs on a float. (Antonio Scorza, AFP)

Revellers of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school perform during the Carnival. (Vanderlei Almeida, AFP)

(Vanderlei Almeida, AFP)

(Felipe Dana, AP)

A woman applies costume make-up for carnival celebrations. (Fernando Vergara, AP)

(Victor R. Caivano, AP)

A reveller of Portela samba school performs on a float during the first night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome. (Antonio Scorza, AFP)

Legs of revellers of Imperatriz samba school are seen during the first night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome. (Christophe Simon, AFP)

A dancer from the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school performs during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Felipe Dana, AP)

Performers from the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome. (Victor R. Caivano, AP)

A reveller of Mocidade samba school dances during the first night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro. (Christophen Simon, AFP)

Musician Jennifer Lopez greets people as she watches the carnival parade with Casper Smart at the Sambadrome. (Victor R. Caivano,AP)