Manuela Moreno Talks TV Past and New Dance Show
Italian television presenter Manuela Moreno has opened up about several aspects of her career in a recent interview, including behind-the-scenes details of two past projects and her current role on a popular dance competition.
Moreno revealed that she was not the first choice to host "A Vita in Diretta", a long-running Italian afternoon show, suggesting that another presenter had originally been approached for the position before her.
She also discussed "Filorosso", an earlier program she had presented, describing it as a good match for her personality and style. Despite this, she noted that the show was never recommissioned for another season, leaving its future uncertain.
Moreno is currently appearing on "Ballando con le Stelle", a well-known Italian reality dance competition in which celebrities are paired with professional dancers and perform routines that are evaluated by a panel of judges. For this edition, running across the 2026/27 season, Moreno has been partnered with professional dancer Carlo Aloia.
A video released alongside the interview shows the pair rehearsing a Quick, a fast-paced dance style that requires sharp footwork and high energy, as they prepare for an upcoming performance on the show.
In comments about her approach to the competition, Moreno said she intended to be "scatenata", an Italian term meaning wild or unrestrained, while performing. However, her dance partner and teacher, Aloia, responded by reminding her of the practical demands of the competition, telling her that rehearsal needs to come first before such energy can be channelled on stage.
The exchange, captured on camera, offers a glimpse into the dynamic between presenter and professional dancer as they prepare for their routine. Taken together, Moreno's remarks paint a picture of a career shaped by both opportunities given to her and projects that did not continue, as she now embraces a new challenge on the dance floor.
Vocabulary5 words
- first choice
- the person picked before anyone else for a job
- recommissioned
- officially brought back for a new season
- reality dance competition
- a TV contest where famous people learn to dance and are judged
- Quick
- a fast style of ballroom dance
- rehearsal
- practice done before a real performance
Quiz
Answer key
1. Another presenter was approached before her 2. It was never brought back for another season 3. True
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Discussion questions
- What do you think it reveals about the TV industry when a presenter admits they were not the first choice for a role?
- Why might a show like "Filorosso" not be recommissioned, even if it suited its host well?
- What skills do you think are needed to perform a fast dance like the Quick on live television?
- How important do you think the relationship between a celebrity and their professional dance partner is for success on a show like this?
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