Holocaust float causes carnival concern
- 00:01:14
- ITN
Holocaust float causes carnival concern
A dance school has been causing controversy in Brazil with a carnival float commemorating the Holocaust.The float, made by the Viradouro Samba School, is part of a "shockers" theme and features a pile of emaciated dead bodies.The Israelite Federation of Rio de Janeiro has taken a stand against the float but Viradouro artistic director Paul Barros insists it will be a success."I consider it an extremely successful float, because it will go down the parade avenue with the function of alerting people, so that this never happens again," he said.Viradouro's parade entry also includes floats depicting the shock of birth, the shock of horror and the shock of cold."These eight sensations that were chosen, were placed in the school's theme in order to provoke a collective shock," said Mr Baros."The majority of them are certainly shocking and will have this effect on the public."The Holocaust float will be the only one without dancers on top.Rio's Carnival is famed for the parades by samba schools with glitzy floats and costumes and street parties where costumed revellers drink and dance all night.The use of religious references has often caused last-minute problems for samba schools and in the past, the Roman Catholic Church has barred floats with figures of Christ and the Virgin Mary and samba schools had to cover or modify them.© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
ITN | January 31, 2008
