R&B star Ne-Yo went behind the scenes at Marquês de Sapucaí, guided through Sector 1 by samba queen Sabrina Sato herself.
A front-row seat inside the samba parade
On Tuesday night, February 17, during one of the most electrifying nights of Rio Carnival, American R&B star Ne-Yo traded the concert stage for the grandstands of Nosso Camarote at the iconic Marquês de Sapucaí. His guide for the evening? None other than Sabrina Sato, the celebrated drum queen of samba school Vila Isabel.
Sabrina was greeting fans in the popular bleachers section when she stopped to take photos with Ne-Yo right at the entrance to the Passarela do Samba — the official samba parade runway. The surprise encounter sent a wave of excitement through the crowd in Sector 1 of the avenue.
An invitation from Nosso Camarote’s founder
The visit was arranged by Santiago Vieira, CEO and co-founder of Nosso Camarote, who personally invited Ne-Yo to experience the spectacle from the inside. The goal was to give the artist an authentic look at what makes Rio’s Carnival one of the world’s most extraordinary cultural events.
For a global performer used to sold-out arenas, witnessing the samba schools up close — the feathers, the drumming, the sheer scale — offered a rare and immersive introduction to Brazil’s most beloved tradition.
Photo: Divulgação
