By Douglas Habecker

       If there is one word, one image that is representative of Brazil for most of the world, it is Carnival. Around the globe, millions have become well acquainted with the Carnival's garish, decadent spectacle of sensuous samba dancing, outrageously-clad--or unclad--dancers, enormous floats and unbridled celebrations. Over the years, this celebration has grown in popularity, being exported across the world to places as diverse as Moscow and Tokyo. Brazilian celebrations in New York, scheduled for September 8 this year, are expected to draw around 1 million people, while the August 30 Asakusa Samba Carnival Parade in Tokyo will probably get about half that number.

       Now, for the first time ever, the Carnival is coming to Taiwan, specifically Taichung. A series of events initiated by Mayor Jason Hu, in cooperation with local and Brazilian organizers, will take place throughout the month for the Taichung Carnival. With the theme "Beauty, Healthy & Energy", this unprecedented event is designed as a post-SARS community-based celebration of life that brings people from all walks of life to produce the music, props, costumes and dances that will compose the carnival parade. It is hoped that this will become a major annual cultural event for the city, boosting tourism and business in the process.

       In keeping with carnival traditions, the Taichung Carnival season will open with the election of the King of the Carnival, or "Rei Momo" as he is called in Brazil, a happy, fat individual who represents the excess of the celebration. As beer is the King's favorite beverage, the Momo's election will take place during the the Taichung International Beer Festival, hosted by the Tourism Bureau on August 12. The King will be presented with the Taichung City Key by Mayor Hu, thus officially opening the carnival season. The King will then parade around the city to salute the community.

       Over the next two weeks, there will be a number of related indoor and outdoor events. Highlights will include the August 23 election of the Samba Dancing Queen. A group of Brazilian Samba dancers and percussionist will be in Taichung to warm the city up for the main event--the large Carnival Parade on August 30. These "Sambistas e passistas" will perform and teach participants how to dance the basic Samba steps. Contestants are being encouraged to introduce their own elements of creativity, as this is a very spontaneous, organic African-style form of music and dance. A jury of experts and the public will choose the Queen and two runners-up. The Queen will then join Rei Momo and his carnival court for grand, passionate, fun displays at public areas around the city''s department stores, malls, public squares and so on--to help generate the Carnival atmosphere. At this time, all prospective carnival parade participants--including local dancers, percussionists and float organizers--will also start preparing for the Grand Carnival Parade.

       A big rehearsal for the main event will take place the day before, on August 29, with all participants. These are expected to include Taiwan's Brazilian community, The Brasil Tropical Carnival group, Taichung's international community, local dance schools and children's percussion groups. Finally, the main event will take place between 7 and 10 p.m. on the next day, a Saturday. This will include a parade of flower-decked, motorized floats, costumed, choreographed dancers and other spectacles, such as live Brazilian and local percussion performances. The parade, between 7 and 9 p.m. will take a circular route along Sanmin, Tze You and Jung Jeng roads, ending at Taichung Chungshan Park, where there will be a big Carnival party, including beer, Brazilian products and other festivities.

       "To realize such complex event requires proper planning, Brazilian carnival content and production expertise, and--most importantly--community participation. In Brazil, preparing for Carnival is a year-long activity," says Eduardo Almeida, director of the Brazil Business Development Center in Taipei, a cultural and economic cooperation organization in Taiwan, who is helping the city government put the event together.

       With public participation and enthusiasm the key to success, there is hope that Taichung residents of all ages and backgrounds will turn out to enjoy and participate in this exotic, fun experience from Brazil.