Loterj helps school train master of ceremonies and flag bearers.

Loterj helps train the masters of ceremonies and flag bearers of the future, two of the most representative figures in the samba school parades of Rio de Janeiro's Carnival and, due to tradition, class and elegance, essential to any group. Aware of this, the Loterj board decided to support the School of Masters of Ceremonies and Flag Bearers, directed by Manuel Dionísio, which today has around 200 children learning the first steps of the purest samba and which, in 13 years of existence, has become one of the most successful social projects.
Next Saturday, the 17th, the school celebrates its anniversary. To celebrate the date, the school's coordination has scheduled a mass at 19 pm at the Santana church, in Praça Onze. A big party will take place on Saturday the 19th, starting at 18 pm, with a show featuring Heloisa Menezes, Mestre Capoeira and her percussion group, and Adriana Lima. One of the highlights of the celebration will be the large flag-waving circle with the participation of samba schools.
The idea of ​​training dancers to represent this noble and elegant art arose when Manuel Dionísio was the general coordinator of Rio's Carnival for Riotur. He recounts that the street carnival groups refused to parade on Avenida Rio Branco in 1988 due to disagreements with Riotur. "To avoid further problems, I suggested that I be given a space to train couples of master of ceremonies, flag bearers, and standard bearers. The request was granted, and I still occupy the gymnasium at the Sambadrome today," he recalls.
To keep the school running, Dionísio says he faced many difficulties. "Many times I even had to pay the entity's expenses out of my own pocket." The situation improved with the monthly sponsorship from Loterj. With the funds, it was even possible to open an administrative headquarters in the city center. The former school project was officially recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a training school for master of ceremonies, flag bearers, and standard bearers in January 2002.
The students also have the support of the judge of the 1st Court of Childhood and Youth, Siro Darlan. The partnership allows young people up to 16 years old to be referred to vocational courses in computer science, crafts, shoe shining, patrolling, dance, and percussion. Although activities begin in May, the school accepts students – from four years old to senior citizens – all year round.
From 1990 to the present day, 2.500 dancers have graduated. Many of them are prominent figures in the city's main samba schools and associations. Currently, among the most famous are the first master-of-ceremonies and flag-bearer couples of Salgueiro, Marcela Alves and Ronaldinho do Salgueiro, and of Portela, Cristiane Caldas and Fabrício.
Registrations can be made on Saturdays, from 14 pm to 18 pm, at the Passarela do Samba gymnasium, sector 3, Sambódromo.
Website of the Government of Rio de Janeiro