Dance demonstration: Brazilians samba to protest against funding cuts

Brazilians have organised a protest with a difference. Members of Rio de Janeiro’s samba schools danced their way through the streets of the city to demonstrate against proposals to slash funds for next year’s Carnival.

They say Mayor Marcelo Crivella’s decision to cut by half (to 270,000 euros) the amount each school receives is driven by his religious beliefs. The former evangelical bishop and gospel singer plans to put the saved money towards child care centres.

But dancers in the Brazilian city claim the cutbacks will put the Carnival, one of the world’s biggest attractions, at risk.