Rio carnival know-how reaches Luton

He’s just returned from a five day trip to Brazil where he recruited a top class float builder to run a week of master classes at Luton’s UK Centre for Carnival Arts.

Next month journalist, TV presenter and South American mas kingpin Milton Cunha will show key members of the Carnival Crossroads team how to create giant floats, Rio style.

He’ll be back before carnival takes place in July to check the work of his students and make last-minute suggestions.

Pax (right, with a cardboard model) is “very excited” about securing Milton’s services.

He said: “It’s building up the momentum.

“We’re trying to make the Crossroads project much more national than the four hubs taking part – Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich and Southend, with Luton at the centre.

“We’ll be taking the procession to other places to add an international element.”

Zimbabwe-born Pax – who also performs under the alias Harare Dread – says carnival in Brazil benefits from substantial government funding because of the money it attracts from tourism.

“It’s like a major Hollywood production,” he said.