Sarah Lemos, muse of Rio’s Carnival: The pain and the delight

Sarah Lemos is a young Carioca full of energy, beauty and smart ideas. She is sharing her vision and tips of Rio’s Carnival and beloved city…

Who are you? What are you doing in Rio?

Who am I? That's profound haha. Many years of therapy and I still don't how to answer this appropriately. Well, I´m Sarah. I've been living in Rio all my life. I work, study, go out, write, try to eat and sleep well, exercise sometimes (like almost never) and get old over the years.

I’m journalist. Right now, I'm dedicated to my marketing MBA, but I also play, organize or get involved in cultural events in the city, especially on the streets.
For example, I play percussion not only in carnival in some bands but also in a samba in favela Morro do Pinto, at Bar do Omar, and I make content, releases and help friends to spread and organize cultural events, but only events I believe. And I do for free.

As a journalist, what’s your favorite part of your work? 

I work for a documentary TV channel of GLOBO Group, where I am doing many things: editorial, social media, exclusive videos, events such as exhibitions and debates etc.  

I really enjoy filming in different places and making interviews with inspiring people. Ah, and also writing scripts. The main themes of the channel are the main themes of my life. So I appreciate it a lot.
Art, philosophy, political minorities, freedom, politics, critical thinking, science, history, media, interesting people and places around the world.
So I’m constantly learning. What could be more exciting?

 
You are fully involved in Rio’s Carnival organization…

I like to say I help to disorganize street Carnival.
Rio’s Carnival is the most deconstructing, transgressor, interesting, magical, beautiful thing of the year.

Every single person in the world should live this once in his life. I could stay hours talking about this. It's when all kinds of people interact and play together with less judgment, people are really open for a different experience, like no other time in the year.

So I am involved in some groups which make the party happen but also discuss about the importance of occupying the streets with art and people, and re-signifying it, in the city, as a place of meeting and not of passage. Especially in a violent city with real estate speculation, people who privilege private property above human dignity, solidarity, empathy etc.

And you were elected " Girl of the Carnival"...  

It’s not something that I am so proud of because it emphasizes more my physical beauty and promotes such odious feminine competitiveness. So it's a sexist contest. But I was nominated and invited to participate, so I used this as a way of saying things I wanted to say.

Here is the interview: https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/carnaval/2015/blocos-de-rua/eleita-musa-dos-blocos-sarah-lemos-defende-liberdade-democracia-do-carnaval-ano-todo-15274808

What about Rio? 

 It´s a city to love and hate at the same time.
Like Gaetano Veloso said: “The pain and the delight”.
Or Fernanda Abreu: “Purgatory of beauty and chaos”.

This extends to relationships here. They are usually passionate and conflicted. Sometimes we just need calm and peace. But you can also have this here of course. In Rio, you can have it all. It's a tempting city in many aspects.

I've traveled a lot and it's the most beautiful city I have ever seen, with different kinds of landscapes. And I'm completely in love with the music, the "street culture" and outdoor lifestyle.

In my mind, I would love to live at a small beach in Bahia, but things are always more beautiful in our mind than in real life, so I stay with the delicious and the pain of reality.

 
What are your favorite places in Rio?

 I love Urca and Santa Teresa neighborhoods. They both look like small villages, with spectacular and incredible views. Santa is like a tropical Lisbon but much more bohemian and trendy.

 I love to attend music concerts in Circo Voador (Lapa), go to the beach at Praia do Leme (Copacabana), enjoy the sunset in Bar Urca (Urca), drink a beer at Comuna (Botafogo), enjoy the samba at Bar do Omar (Morro do Pinto) or Pedra do Sal (Gamboa) or Bip Bip (Copacabana) or Rua do Ouvidor (downtown), go to a party at Morro do Vidigal and Sacadura Cabral (downtown) and go to spontaneous "blocos" around the city, all over the year, especially in Carnival! 

What are your tips for the carnival? 

·      Never follow the official calendar! Unknown or spontaneous "blocos" are better.
·      Go to Santa Teresa.
·      Wake up really early to enjoy.

Interview & Pictures: Angela Perigot.
Thanks to Marie Tarrisse for the introduction!