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Brazil’s Recession Is Crashing Its Biggest Party

  • Most of Rio's top samba schools get no private funds this year
  • Corporate VIP booth sponsors are declining, as are imports
BRAZIL-CARNIVAL-RIO-PARADE-IMPERATRIZ
Photographer: Christophe Simon/AFP via Getty Images
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Pheasant feathers from last year’s costumes are being stained and reused. Swarovski stones are out, cheap rocks are in. Imported paints, sequins and buckles have been replaced with local knockoffs.

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