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Spirit of Samba: Carnival sets Rio alight as dancers take to the Sambadrome

Rio de Janeiro's top samba schools entertained thousands at the Sambadrome with eye-opening performances.

 / Updated 26 PHOTOS
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A performer adjusts her costume before the Imperio Serrano samba school parade on the first night of Rio's Carnival at the Sambadrome on Feb. 11, 2018.

Rio de Janeiro's top samba schools danced and sang hard as millions of other Brazilians did the same during nationwide Carnival celebrations that ridiculed local and world leaders, called for tolerance and pushed the boundaries of just about everything.

— Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images
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A performer from the Mocidade samba school stands on a float.

— Ricardo Moraes / Reuters
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A dancer practices before the start of the first night of the carnival.

— Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images
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Members of the Mocidade samba school dance in the Sambadrome.

— Mauro Pimentel / AFP - Getty Images
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Revelers from the Grande Rio Samba school perform.

— Sergio Moraes / Reuters
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A performer from the Academicos do Grande Rio samba school dances in the Sambadrome.

— Leo Correa / AP
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The Paraiso do Tuiuti samba school covered the theme of slavery with their performance.

— Leo Correa / AP
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A woman from the samba school Grupo Especial Vila Isabel takes part in the Carnival celebrations.

— Antonio Lacerda / EPA
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A man from the Grupo Especial Vila Isabel performs with neon lit teeth.

— Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images
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Members of the Grupo Especial Sao Clemente samba school perform down the parade route.

— Marcelo Sayao / EPA
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A dancer from the Mangueira samba school sings during the celebration.

— Mauro Pimentel / AFP - Getty Images
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Revelers from the Vila Isabel Samba school sing and dance in the parade.

— Pilar Olivares / Reuters
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Dancers from Sao Clemente perform during the parade procession.

— Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images
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Members of the Grupo Especial Vila Isabel samba school dance atop their float.

— Marcelo Sayao / EPA
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Performers from the Sao Clemente samba school wear elaborate animal costumes during the celebration.

— Silvia Izquierdo / AP
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Performers from the Sao Clemente samba school parade down the Sambadrome.

— Silvia Izquierdo / AP
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Performers from the Imperio Serrano samba school practice backstage before the celebration.

— Silvia Izquierdo / AP
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Performers from the Imperio Serrano samba school dress as pandas for Carnival.

— Leo Correa / AP
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A male performer from the Unidos da Tijuca Samba school dresses as a Greek god on the second night of Carnival on Feb. 12.

— Sergio Moraes / Reuters
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Revelers from the Unidos da Tijuca Samba school portray a Greek theme during their performance.

— Pilar Olivares / Reuters
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Members of the Grupo Especial Beija Flor samba school take part in a gang violence themed Carnival piece.

In Rio, the celebrations come during a time of unease, as the city that hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics is experiencing a surge in violence.

Authorities promised 17,000 security officers would patrol every day during Carnival celebrations, but Brazilian media reported several muggings over the weekend in the upscale neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon that are popular with tourists.

— Marcelo Sayao / EPA
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A gang violence themed piece is performed by the Beija-Flor samba school.

— Mauro Pimentel / AFP - Getty Images
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A member of the Beija-Flor samba school pretends to shoot another dancer during their Carnival performance.

— Mauro Pimentel / AFP - Getty Images
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A performer from the Salgueiro samba school dances atop a float in the Carnival parade.

— Mauro Pimentel / AFP - Getty Images
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Performers from the Uniao da Ilha samba school parade during Carnival celebrations.

— Silvia Izquierdo / AP
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A member of the Grupo Especial Salgueiro samba school takes part in the celebration.

Photos: Glitter and glee: Carnival season is underway around the globe

— Marcelo Sayao / EPA
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