Abre-Alas is the first wing of a samba school. It must have from 10 to 15 people only. They introduce the samba school.and set the mood, giving the audience an idea of what to expect. Costumes for this group are particularly well-designed. Top choreographers like Carlinhos de Jesus and Deborah Colker are invited to work with them, and they train for months. Members of the abre-alas cannot make mistakes. It is one of the features analyzed and rated by judges.

The intricate choreography usually tells a short story in itself. Performers may also create shapes together as they march along. They interact with the audience, and sometimes stop to greet and cheer. Keep your eyes on the abre-alas until you really lose them of sight. Turn around for a second, and you may miss the grand finale, and the whole point of the act! The abre-alas wing is usually followed by the first float of the samba school.