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Ornella Muti Dances the Waltz on Ballando con le Stelle

Couple dancing in a kitchen doorway
Photo by Hanna Lazar on Unsplash
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On the Italian TV program Ballando con le Stelle, actress Ornella Muti performed a waltz with her dance partner Pasquale La Rocca.

The same episode also focused on a different story involving La Rocca: his past relationship with TV presenter Barbara D'Urso.

According to the program, the two had a kind of 'cold war', meaning a long-lasting conflict without open fighting.

TV critic and journalist Selvaggia Lucarelli was asked to explain the background of this situation.

She spoke about secret chats between La Rocca and D'Urso, which were reportedly part of the story.

Lucarelli also discussed the reason behind their break-up, though the exact details were not fully explained in the summary.

Another well-known figure, Alessia Marcuzzi, was mentioned as being connected to the situation in some way.

It is not clear from the available information exactly how Marcuzzi is involved.

The combination of the dance performance and the personal drama made this episode of the show attract public attention.

Ballando con le Stelle is a popular dance competition broadcast in Italy, where celebrities dance with professional partners each week.

The program often includes both performances and discussions about contestants' personal lives.

Vocabulary10 words

waltz
a slow dance with three steps in a pattern
dance partner
the person someone dances with in a competition
cold war
a long disagreement between people without direct fighting
critic
someone who gives public opinions about TV, film, or art
secret chats
private message conversations not shown to others
break-up
the end of a relationship or friendship
involved
connected to a situation or event
contestants
people who take part in a competition
broadcast
shown on television or radio
background
the earlier events that explain a situation

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Quiz

1. What did Ornella Muti do on the show?
2. What did Selvaggia Lucarelli discuss?
3. Is it clear exactly how Alessia Marcuzzi is connected to the story?

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Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

On the Italian TV program Ballando con le Stelle, actress Ornella Muti performed a _____ with her dance partner Pasquale La Rocca.

The same episode also focused on a different story involving La Rocca: his past relationship with TV presenter Barbara _____.

According to the program, the two had a kind of 'cold _____', meaning a long-lasting conflict without open fighting.

TV critic and journalist Selvaggia _____ was asked to explain the background of this situation.

She spoke about secret _____ between La Rocca and D'Urso, which were reportedly part of the story.

Lucarelli also discussed the reason behind their _____, though the exact details were not fully explained.

Another well-known figure, Alessia _____, was mentioned as being connected to the situation in some way.

It is not clear from the available information exactly how Marcuzzi is _____.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think TV shows mix performances with personal drama stories?
  2. Do you think it's fair to discuss someone's private relationships on a public show?
  3. Have you ever watched a dance competition show like this one? What did you enjoy about it?
  4. Why might viewers be interested in a 'cold war' between two celebrities?

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