Krewe of Carnivale en Rio

Lafayette's most dazzling party kicked off the Mardi Gras season in Brazilian style on SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009. And what a night it was!

"Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" was the theme and checkered flags dressed the tables of this year's Ball. The fourth annual Ball was held in the Cajundome Convention Center.

                       

"The Rio Ball has grown in popularity in just a few short years because of its crowd participation, heart-pounding music and extraordinary costumes," said Rebecca Landry, the krewe's 'capita'. Most of our guests hardly sit in their seats the entire night!

 

            A colorful Brazilian-style parade, featuring "Macumba" and his slaves, along with the "Placa de Directores", past kings and queens, dancers, float captains and their lieutenants opened the ball festivities.

 

            Next to take the stage were members of Rio's Corte Real, or Royal Court. King DomPedro IV is Lafayette businessman Cyrus Champagne. His Queen Isabel IV is Kelley Bonnette Gauthreaux of Lafayette. The royal couple was first introduced to the krewe at the krewe's annual Sambada last fall.

 

            Joining the King and Queen as Corte members were H. L. Huffman and Dawn Quirk as the Matador and Senorita a la Pamplona, Spain's "Running of the Bulls". Second were Bill Lukasko as Lance Armstrong of theTour de France and Doug Trahan as Kent Desormeaux of the Kentucky Derby.

            Ashleigh Dugas and Art Price were next to enter as Rose and Jack of the movie "Titanic".  Jeff Riggs portrayed Mario Andretti of Daytona fame, while Keith Trahan was the famous daredevil stuntman, Evel Kneivel.

 

            Darrin Babineaux and Judy Swindle were "Crash" and "Bam", the Crash Test Dummies. Their characters remained a surprise to the guests until their entry at the Ball.

 

            As a special feature, two lucky krewe members, one male and one female, were announced as "surprise royalty". Robert Michalk and Mella Viera were chosen for the honor and donned their "Biker Dude" and "Biker Babe" costumes on stage.The guests then dined and danced to the music of popular Crescent City band "The Distractions".