Sway to some samba and you'll start to understand the appeal. A spectacular Brazilian Samba show danced into town on Tuesday as part of the 4th "Meet In Beijing Arts Festival".

As the weather started to cool down outside, things were heating up inside with the show, called From Rio de Janeiro with Samba and Love. With a costume parade and traditional Brazilian music, it wasn't hard to lose yourself in the Samba moment.

Coming from Africa, the Samba has become the most popular dance in Brazil ever since the celebrants first pounded out the drum rhythms at the annual pre-Lenten Carnival. The 2003 champion team and Dance King and Queen strutted their moves showing Brazilians' lust for life.

The passion and agility of the dancers swept the audience off their feet producing a thrilling new experience for everyone.

One audience member said, "It is a fresh experience for me as I have never seen it before. I am especially impressed by their brilliant costumes and passionate performance."

The carnival atmosphere only grew throughout the night and ended on a high note. The spirit of the night lingers on, leaving spectators with a better understanding of Brazilian culture.

(CCTV.com May 27, 2004)