George and the Dragon was made to participate in a British street performance, following the tradition of European parades and Caribbean carnival.

Carnival happens all over the world and is a form of street theatre. It is relatively new to Britain. This costume was made to bring the spirit of Caribbean Carnival to Brighton streets; it is a way of moving that comes from calypso and soca; a way of performing that is organic, and for the performer comes from copying as a child the performance of her mother and aunts.

Caribbean Carnival grew out of the traditional European carnival held at the beginning of Lent. In Trinidad it was the only day when slaves could dance and sing. Masked and costumed, they were able to escape their everyday lives, and they often used it to satirise their 'masters'. The skills of costume making, calypso and steel drumming became what is today a huge festival of arts and culture in the Caribbean and has been exported all over the world. In Britain, the best known Carnival has been taking place on the streets of Notting Hill during the last weekend in August since 1964.

	Performer, Rio Carnival © Marcos Silviano do Prado 2000

Carnival is one of the most photographed festivals in the world, yet not even glorious Technicolor can convey the orgy of excitement, the smells, the heat, the confusion, the heart pounding noise, the sexual energy, the pepper sauce wit, the aching limbs and the sense of mental release.

The dramatic effect of a mas band of a thousand or more people 'jumping up' in the street can be breathtaking, a shock of colour and life. When it comes together with scores of other mas bands and spectators, all vying for attention and space, the energy can be overwhelming.