The student Valdinea da Silva, and Marineide, 14 years old, live on a poor community called Alemão (German), inside Rio de Janeiro. Already on monday morning, they start to ask their mothers if she will let them go to a funk ball that will happen on friday.

Why so much time before? It will give time to mother decide to leave her go and also to produce herself: clothes, maquiagem, hair, nails and skin, everything to compose an strike appearance. "I adore funk ball, but I do not go frequently because my mother not always let me", Valdinea says.

But Valdinéia insists. After staying the entire week without reply, friday she tries again. That´s always the same: at last hour, mother communicates the decision. Most of times reply is not. When reply is yes, mother explains why waits in such a way to answer the daughter: "It is for not giving time of it to form a "street-car" (a local slang for group of young), she says, worried.

Luana and Líliam Cristina, almost on same age of Valdinea, tells that to go to the ball without a "street-car" does not have the same flavour, because they finish being dancing alone in the ball. Moreover, they become more vulnerable to boys "attack". "When you´re inside a streetcar, nobody moves", affirms. On the other hand, they say, "It´s cool to have a group to dance together ".

They want to be seen...

When Valdinéia can´t go to the ball in sixth, on next week she is asking for a permission again. While the mother does not decide, she goes doing housework and avoids to be in the street until afternoon. Everything to see if it adds some points on her asking. At the same time, she goes trying new combinations of clothes, shoes and accessories. Even loan clothes to not repeat is valid.

Such vanity has a witness: " the mirror ", says the mother. When the mother of Valdinéia after all decides to leave her to go to the ball, she doesn´t loose time. Immediately the maratona of clothes starts. After taking a long bath, it takes 30 minutes more to choose the figurino. A scene that is repeated in the house of almost all the teens. " The thing that I taste more is makeup, in front of the mirror. It is the hour to prepare the face. Pacing a lipstick that more matches with the clothes, pencil of eye, and a basic maquilage", says Liliam. Hair and teeth have to be shining. And a good parfum gives the final touch. Soon, it´s time to go for the ball. But before leaving, is always good to ask for a little money to the parents. Something around US$ 5. " To feel well in the party, the important thing is to be "neurotic" (full of style, pretty). We are always looking for to call the attention through the clothes", says Luana.

Adapted from www.vivafavela.com.br

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