Carnival 2011 Pictures

Brazil's Carnival celebrations find millions of people taking to the streets to dance and party, effectively putting the nation on a week-long hiatus to take in Rio de Janeiro's extravagant parades and fantasy floats.

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Photos From Carnival

A Grande Rio samba school dancer performs while parading through the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday March 8, 2011. Click the image for more Carnival celebration photos.

AP

AP

Photos From Carnival
A reveller dances the traditional frevo, an accelerated polka-like dance, during Recife's Carnival, in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, on March 6, 2011. Carnival is under way in Brazil with millions taking to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party, while Rio was preparing on Sunday to put on the climax to its Carnival celebrations: the extravagant and sensual parades famed the world over. AFP PHOTO/LEO CALDAS (Photo credit should read LEO CALDAS/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
A reveller jumps while dancing the traditional frevo, an accelerated polka-like dance, during Recife's Carnival, in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, on March 6, 2011. Carnival is under way in Brazil with millions taking to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party, while Rio was preparing on Sunday to put on the climax to its Carnival celebrations: the extravagant and sensual parades famed the world over. AFP PHOTO/LEO CALDAS (Photo credit should read LEO CALDAS/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
A reveller dances the traditional frevo, an accelerated polka-like dance, during Recife's Carnival, in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, on March 6, 2011. Carnival is under way in Brazil with millions taking to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party, while Rio was preparing on Sunday to put on the climax to its Carnival celebrations: the extravagant and sensual parades famed the world over. AFP PHOTO/LEO CALDAS (Photo credit should read LEO CALDAS/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
Revellers dance the traditional frevo, an accelerated polka-like dance, during Recife's Carnival, in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, on March 6, 2011. Carnival is under way in Brazil with millions taking to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party, while Rio was preparing on Sunday to put on the climax to its Carnival celebrations: the extravagant and sensual parades famed the world over. AFP PHOTO/LEO CALDAS (Photo credit should read LEO CALDAS/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
A reveller of Gavioes da Fiel samba school sings and dances during the second night of Carnival parades at the Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early on March 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
A reveller of Gavioes da Fiel samba school sings and dances during the second night of Carnival parades at the Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early on March 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
Brazilian model Sabrina Sato (R) sings and dances ahead of drummers of Gavioes da Fiel samba school during the second night of Carnival parades at the Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early on March 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
Brazilian model Sabrina Sato (C) sings and dances ahead of drummers of Gavioes da Fiel samba school during the second night of Carnival parades at the Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early on March 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
Revellers of Gavioes da Fiel samba school sing and dance atop of a float during the second night of Carnival parades at the Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early on March 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival
Brazilian model Sabrina Sato sings and dances ahead of drummers of Gavioes da Fiel samba school during the second night of Carnival parades at the Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early on March 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)
Photos From Carnival