Ballando con le Stelle premiere sparks tension among judges

The premiere of the new season of the Rai 1 dance competition ‘Ballando con le Stelle’ has been marked by tension and public disagreements among the cast and jury.

A primary conflict arose when judge Barbara D'Urso criticized the tango performance of Ornella Muti and Pasquale La Rocca, stating she did not perceive enough ‘passion’. This prompted a sharp reaction from La Rocca and a verbal exchange between Simona Ventura and D'Urso, with Ventura jokingly asking if D'Urso was ‘jealous’ due to her previous professional relationship with La Rocca.

Jury member Guillermo Mariotto revealed that the introduction of new judges Alberto Matano and Barbara D'Urso created ‘performance anxiety’ and tension among the existing panel. While veteran judge Carolyn Smith noted that the new format focuses more on dancing and less on controversy, other commentators observed the significant shift in the show's dynamic following the departure of previous judges.