Once very common, Carnival dances are declining in the island of San Miguel, Azores. However, some groups persist with a practice whose origin is lost in time. On Sundays before Carnival, they roam the streets of their villages and put on an act for the locals and tourists who flock to watch the performances. In Povoação, the dances take on a peculiar feature: only men are allowed to join the group. Thus, women’s roles are played by men in disguise.