Half/full day excursion from your Rio hotel Samba derived from the slums of Rio, and while it is celebrated by Brazilians of all classes, is essentially the music and dance of the working people. It is famously an integral part of Rio's Carnival. The City of Samba is a huge, specially designed complex that includes workshops for many of the best carnival 'samba schools.'  Workshops offer daily dance demonstrations, as well as making costumes and tuning up percussion instruments. This is followed by a lively 'pagode' sing-along. Thursdays only: Later at 9pm, there is a Carnival show, complete with feather-decked samba stars, soloists and banner-bearers, all moving to the beat of Special Group Samba School drummers. It includes a mini-parade and ends with a fireworks display. A cocktail drink is complementary.