In a Rio de Janeiro samba-school parade, an individual themed group of dancers is called an ala.
An ala is a parade wing whose members generally wear coordinated costumes and perform within a samba school’s larger enredo. Each wing contributes a visual idea, character, historical episode, or symbolic element to the school’s storytelling.
A samba school’s parade contains multiple alas, arranged alongside floats, musicians, and featured performers. The costumes help judges and spectators understand how the school has divided and represented its theme.
The term is sometimes confused with enredo, which means the overall storyline or theme, and with carro alegórico, which means an allegorical float. An ala is a human parade group, not the complete narrative and not a vehicle. The number, design, and placement of wings vary according to the school’s annual concept.