His dance moves made him Brazil's most famous street sweeper.
Its story begins in 1998. Renato Sorriso set foot for the first time on the legendary Sambodrome track in Rio de Janeiro.
Every year, the best samba schools compete in an explosion of colors, feathers and special effects.
After each procession passes, an army of little hands cleans the track in lightning time.
Objective: to leave it impeccable for the entrance to the next school.
Their name ?
The “guys”.
Recognizable by their orange and navy blue uniform, they are the garbage collectors and sweepers of Rio de Janeiro.
“I was there, in the den of the samba gods, where the best dancers dream of shining, and I couldn't stop myself from dancing samba,” remembers Renato.
His manager reprimands him as he follows, but the applause bursts out.
The public is won over.
Her management changes their mind and allows her to dance while working.
A legend is born.
For more than 25 years now, the improvised sambist has been animating inter-school intervals, with his dance steps and his infectious smile.
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Outside of the Carnival period, which lasts a week each February, Renato is responsible for cleaning a small flowered square in Tijuca, in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro.
In the neighborhood, his face is familiar.
He regularly puts down his broom, interrupted by passers-by wanting to take a photo with the “gari” star.
Paris, London, Madrid, Bahrain: Renato Sorriso has traveled the globe, from stage to stage.
As he likes to say, “his passport is his broom”.
He met the greatest, Maradona and Pelé in the lead, and his hip swing even took him to the Olympic Games.
“Gari Sorriso” carried the flame there four times.
Dance changed his life, but he never considered changing careers.
Now aged 59, Renato does not intend to retire any time soon.