# Manuela Moreno Confronts Past Trauma During Ballando con le Stelle Performance Journalist Manuela Moreno discards her wedding dress after reflecting on a cancelled marriage ceremony. - **Source:** [Today.it](https://www.today.it) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f7685038-4dd2-48d4-8f2e-3d7a5731b5a4 ## Emotional Waltz Performance During the sixth episode of Ballando con le Stelle 2026, aired November 7, 2027, journalist Manuela Moreno and partner Carlo Aloia performed an intense waltz. Dancing to Unchained Melody, the pair aimed to convey deep emotional resonance, marking a significant moment in the competition that drew varied reactions from the jury. ## Discarding the Wedding Dress Moreno revealed she recently discarded a wedding dress kept for twenty years. The garment symbolized a marriage that collapsed three days before the ceremony. She described the act of throwing it away as a personal liberation, finally clearing her closet of a painful reminder of a dream that never materialized. ## The Cancelled Ceremony The wedding cancellation occurred just seventy-two hours before the event due to complex circumstances Moreno likened to a Turkish soap opera. The logistical fallout was severe, requiring her to notify all guests and return gifts. She spent a week in shock, struggling to process the sudden collapse of her plans. ## Healing from Personal Scars Moreno spoke candidly about her life of sacrifices and the emotional scars she has learned to treat independently. She expressed that while her career provided fulfillment, the absence of a child remains a void that nothing can repay. This vulnerability framed her performance, shifting the focus from dance to personal history. ## Jury and Guest Reactions The jury response was polarized. Ivan Zazzaroni and Carolyn Smith praised the technical execution and grace of the performance. Conversely, Guillermo Mariotto delivered harsh criticisms directed at professional dancer Carlo Aloia. This negative feedback sparked immediate controversy among the audience at home and across various social media platforms during broadcast. ## Supportive Public Commentary Fellow television personality Barbara d'Urso offered a public appeal following Moreno's confession. She encouraged both men and women to discard physical objects associated with past trauma, echoing the sentiment of moving forward. Ventura also attempted to console Moreno, noting that a pre-wedding cancellation is preferable to a post-wedding divorce. ## Shifting Romantic Perspectives Moreno admitted that her past experiences fundamentally altered her view on romance. While she once envisioned a country life filled with children and dogs, she now finds overt romanticism bothersome. This disillusionment serves as the backdrop for her current participation in the show, highlighting a transition toward personal autonomy. ## Context of Reality Competition Ballando con le Stelle often serves as a platform for contestants to share biographical narratives alongside physical performance. By integrating personal trauma into the dance routine, Moreno follows a common reality television format where emotional vulnerability is leveraged to build audience connection, regardless of the technical scores provided by judges. ## Sources covering this story - [Today.it — Manuela Moreno Opens Up About Cancelled Wedding on Ballando con le Stelle](https://www.today.it/tv/news/ballando-stelle/manuela-moreno-matrimonio-saltato.html) - [Source — Manuela Moreno and Carlo Aloia Perform Waltz on Ballando con le Stelle](https://www.rainews.it/video/2026/11/ballando-con-le-stelle-il-valzer-di-manuela-moreno-e-carlo-aloia-30fa818a-877f-472b-925c-b2012d40d527.html) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._