BATE-BOLA when they arrive, the street changes colour. Masks, costumes and the sound of balls hitting the ground announce a celebration shaped by imagination, connection and memory. Among the groups in Rio de Janeiro’s suburbs, each Carnival brings new creations, while keeping alive the stories and knowledge passed down by those who came before.

This is the world that inspires us: the culture of the bate-bolas of Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, and our encounter with a collective that keeps this tradition alive through its creations. From this dialogue, we bring to Lisbon an experience shaped by respect, curiosity and a passion for Carnival.

In 2026, we brought Bloquete, Lisbon’s first Brazilian funk bloco, to the Carnival of Cova da Moura, presenting a creation in the streets of Portugal inspired by the aesthetics and energy of Rio’s popular Carnival. The costume worn in the performance was created by a bate-bola collective from Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, bringing two territories closer together through art, music and celebration – always with respect for the history and popular culture of Rio de Janeiro.