Barbara D’Urso Makes a Ballando Comeback to a Standing Ovation
Barbara D’Urso returned to television after two years away, stepping onto the ballroom floor of Ballando con le Stelle to a warmly applauding audience. Her long-awaited return was charged with anticipation and tension, largely due to the history she shares with Selvaggia Lucarelli, the show’s openly critical judge. D’Urso’s debut on the dance floor was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd, a moment that felt celebratory and hopeful after her absence from the screen.
After her performance, D’Urso offered a light, self-aware remark that seemed to mirror the atmosphere backstage: “I felt like the first day of school.” The quip captured both nerves and excitement, framing what many hoped would be a fresh start for a familiar face on a new TV stage.
Judges’ Reactions: A Mixed Reception
The panel, as is traditional, split into different camps as they weighed D’Urso’s return. Carolyn Smith praised the performance, saying she danced like a true professional, while also noting room for improvement. Ivan Zazzaroni highlighted a certain extra spark in D’Urso’s routine, describing the performance as emotional and impeccably delivered. Fabio Canino took a more cautious stance, suggesting that the ovation from the audience might not fully reflect the reality of the execution. Guillermo Mariotto offered a provocative compliment, jokingly likening her to a vintage movie icon in a playful, if cheeky, tone.
The varied reactions underscored the larger dynamic at Ballando: the show thrives on a blend of admiration, critique, and the inevitable entertainment jitters that come with high-profile participants. It was clear that D’Urso had unsettled expectations on both sides of the judges’ table, setting the stage for a memorable season.
The Moment of Confrontation: Lucarelli’s Sharp Barbs and the ‘Vaffa’ Moment
However, the most talked-about moment of the night arrived when Selvaggia Lucarelli opened her critique with a pointed comparison between Milly Carlucci’s professionalism and D’Urso’s own abilities. The exchange quickly shifted the tone from purely technical to emotionally charged. In a whispered aside, D’Urso uttered a soft “vaffa…”, a candid slip that reflected the friction running through the judging panel and the public’s appetite for dramatic television.
Lucarelli delivered a verdict that blended praise with practical cautions: “I found everything very astute and full of pathos, danced with great grace. I don’t know if you’ll be able to handle more complex choreography, but overall it was very pleasant. If I may give you a tip, reduce the facial expressions a bit, even though I know they’re your signature; watching you again, I think you’ll be on the right track.” The final assessment acknowledged D’Urso’s talent while signaling that the road ahead would demand versatility and restraint—elements crucial for success in increasingly challenging routines.
What This Means for Ballando and Barbara D’Urso
Night one of D’Urso’s Ballando comeback demonstrated the show’s enduring appeal: a blend of star power, candid critique, and live drama. The mixed reception from the judges, punctuated by a high-tension moment with Lucarelli, instantly positioned D’Urso as a focal point of the season. For the audience, the episode delivered exactly what Ballando fans crave: a compelling interplay between performance, personality, and palpable on-screen tension. As D’Urso continues her journey on the dance floor, viewers will be watching not only for technique but also for how she navigates the storytelling side of a competition that thrives on charisma as much as choreography.
Why It Resonates Now
Barbara D’Urso’s return comes at a moment when reality-dance formats lean into star narratives to boost engagement. The episode reveals the delicate balance Ballando must strike between honoring its professional roots and embracing the broader media ecosystem that celebrates celebrity moments—both triumphant and imperfect. The night’s events suggest that the season could be defined by a few decisive performances and a few sharper conversations, with D’Urso squarely in the middle of both.
