Squel, Confessions of the Carnival Queen (2026)

After stepping away in 2022, Squel Jorgea chose to make a triumphant return to Rio Carnival. A flag-bearer for more than two decades, she launched her career at Grande Rio, dancing there for eleven seasons before becoming the first person to represent both Mangueira and Portela, two of samba’s most storied schools. Having navigated single motherhood, she has reconnected with the physicality, movement, and strength that made her a leading figure in the art form. Now she dances a theme inspired by Um Defeito de Cor, a son’s letter to his enslaved mother, a story that resonates deeply with her own life. Between the