Brazil Carnival crowns Mangueira samba champion

Rio de Janeiro samba school Mangueira was voted the winner of Brazil's 2016 Carnival, local media reported Wednesday.

The school, which dedicated its performance to the 50-year career of beloved Brazilian singer Maria Bethania, who was riding atop one of its floats, beat 11 other schools to rank in first place, with 269.80 points.

Schools garner points in a range of categories, including music and dancing, but mostly for how well they reflect their chosen theme through elaborate floats and costumes.

Mangueira's chosen theme, inspired by the Brazilian religion of African origin Candomble, was dazzlingly depicted in myriad exotic costumes, African beats, and lavish floats.

Angela Perrone Sinclair, a dancer in rival samba school Sao Clemente, which came in ninth, suggested Mangueira's 14 years of experience competing in the annual samba parade had finally paid off.

"The costumes and floats were impeccable this year and their samba was the best, it got every single person watching to sing," said Perrone.

"After not winning for years, they had a new Carnavelesco (director-choreographer), which really helped. He is in charge of creating the parade, he picks the theme and designs and everything," said Perrone.

"Mangueira had a history of being on the tacky side, but this year everything was in impeccable taste. They chose to pay homage to Maria Bethania and her relationship with Catholicism and Candomble, which I think helped win over the public," Perrone added.

Samba schools Unidos da Tujica and Portela came in second and third, respectively.

Brazil's Carnival is one of the world's most recognizable events. It ran from Feb. 5 to 9 this year, marking the 100th anniversary of samba, a musical genre born in the favelas. Endit