Carnival in Rio 2016

Members of Brazil's elite samba troupes paraded through the Sambadrome on the first night of Carnival in a colorful explosion of music, costumes and dance.

Pictured: Revelers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2016.

Beija-Flor

Beija-Flor samba school's Drum Queen Rayssa Oliveira performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, February 7, 2016.

Grande Rio

Revellers of Grande Rio samba school perform during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro February 8, 2016.

Uniao da Ilha

Each samba school tells a story in its costumes and choreography.

Uniao da Ilha (pictured) depicted iconic landmarks of Rio de Janiero, from the Christ the Redeemer statue to scenes of the city's slums.

Uniao da Ilha

A reveler of Uniao da Ilha samba school performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro February 7, 2016.

Uniao da Ilha

Revelers of Uniao da Ilha samba school wait before the beginning of the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2016.

Grande Rio

Revelers of Grande Rio samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2015.

Estacio de Sa

The Estacio de Sa troupe, one of six samba schools in the parade, paid tribute to Christian martyr St. George.

Pictured: Revelers of Estacio de Sa samba school perform during the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2016.

Estacio de Sa

A reveler of the Estacio de Sa samba school performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 7, 2016.

Estacio de Sa

Estacio de Sa samba school's Drum Queen Luana Bandeira performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 7, 2016.

Estacio de Sa

A reveler of the Estacio de Sa samba school performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 7, 2016.

Mocidade

Revelers of the Mocidade samba school perform during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil February 7, 2016.

Estacio de Sa

A reveler of the Estacio de Sa samba school performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro February 7, 2016.

Sambadrome

Revelers leave the sambadrome after parading in the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, February 7, 2016.

Beija-Flor

Revelers of Beija-Flor samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 7, 2016.

Beija-Flor

Revelers of Beija-Flor samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2016.

Beija-Flor

A reveler of Beija-Flor samba school performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, February 7, 2016.

Block party

Revelers participate during an annual block party in Sao Luiz do Paraitinga, Brazil, February 7, 2016.

Make-up

A reveler gets make-up applied before the first night of the Carnival parade of samba schools in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 7, 2016.

Subway

Revelers ride on the subway before the first night of the Carnival parade of samba schools in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 7, 2016.

Maracatu carnival

A reveler is photographed during a traditional Maracatu carnival in Olinda, Brazil February 8, 2016.

Unidos da Tijuca

A reveler of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil February 7, 2016.

Portela

Revelers of the Portela samba school perform during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, February 9, 2016.

Unidos da Tijuca

Revellers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro February 7, 2016.

Unidos da Tijuca

Revelers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2016.

Unidos da Tijuca

A reveler of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil February 7, 2016.

Grande Rio

Revelers of Grande Rio samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2015.

Grande Rio

Revelers of Grande Rio samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 7, 2015.

Grande Rio

Revelers of Grande Rio samba school performs during the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, February 7, 2016.

Mascots

Vinicius and Tom, the mascots for the Brazilian Olympic and Paralympic Games, are seen at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 7, 2016.

Estacio de Sa

Revelers of the Estacio de Sa samba school leave the Sambadrome after parading in the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, February 7, 2016.

Block Party

Revelers take part in the annual block party known as "Cordao do Bola Preta," one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 6, 2016.

Block Party

Revelers take part in the annual block party known as "Cordao do Bola Preta," one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 6, 2016.

Block Party

Revelers take part in an annual block party known as "Cordao de Prata Preta," one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 6, 2016.

Wonder Women

Girls dressed as Wonder Woman attend an annual block party known as "Cordao de Prata Preta," one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 6, 2016.

Carnival's pre-Lent festivities continue until February 10, Ash Wednesday.