In Italy, Dancing Helps During Lockdown
2021-04-12
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1Much of Italy is still in a coronavirus lockdown.
2So live music, theatrical performances and movies continue to be banned.
3And many sporting activities are limited.
4However, in an industrial area just outside of Rome, competitive ballroom dancing is alive and well.
5With certain health and safety measures, it just looks a little different.
6Face coverings or social distancing are usually not part of the ballroom dancing experience.
7But they are now. And they do not stop partners of every age from dancing gracefully across the floor.
8At the New Dancing Days center, dance partners are getting ready for the Italian Championship in Rimini in July.
9The government considers this activity a national interest.
10So, the dancers are permitted to keep training.
11In Italy, other federally recognized competitive athletes are able to keep training even during the latest virus-related bans.
12"Yes, we can do it. Here we can keep on dancing," said Raffaella Serafini.
13At the age of 45, Serafini has competed in ballroom dancing for a long time, 35 years.
14She is the owner of New Dancing Days.
15The dance center has mirrors on the walls and multi-colored lights.
16Partners wear face coverings during warm-ups and breaks.
17They can remove them while performing traditional ballroom or Latin dances.
18But most dancers keep them on anyway.
19"It's something beautiful for us because we're older, but we can still put ourselves in play," said 70-year-old Franco Cauli.
20He is training with his 74-year-old partner for a competition at the end of April.
21Cauli said he felt safe with the health measures taken by the dance center.
22Other dancers, he said, followed the measures seriously and obey them.
23The Italian Dance Sport Federation has ruled that 34 dancers are permitted to train in a place the size of New Dancing Days.
24Currently all 34 dancers at the center, aged nine to 76, train up to five days a week.
25From a viewing area above the dance floor, Serafini observes her dancers and shouts directions to them.
26If she sees something wrong, she will stop the music, go down to the dance floor and show the correct way to do a step, pose, or turn.
27"The school is my great pride," she said.
28"When I see them on the dance floor, it is like I am there."
29I'm Anna Matteo.
1Much of Italy is still in a coronavirus lockdown. 2So live music, theatrical performances and movies continue to be banned. And many sporting activities are limited. 3However, in an industrial area just outside of Rome, competitive ballroom dancing is alive and well. With certain health and safety measures, it just looks a little different. 4Face coverings or social distancing are usually not part of the ballroom dancing experience. But they are now. And they do not stop partners of every age from dancing gracefully across the floor. 5At the New Dancing Days center, dance partners are getting ready for the Italian Championship in Rimini in July. The government considers this activity a national interest. So, the dancers are permitted to keep training. In Italy, other federally recognized competitive athletes are able to keep training even during the latest virus-related bans. 6"Yes, we can do it. Here we can keep on dancing," said Raffaella Serafini. At the age of 45, Serafini has competed in ballroom dancing for a long time, 35 years. She is the owner of New Dancing Days. 7The dance center has mirrors on the walls and multi-colored lights. Partners wear face coverings during warm-ups and breaks. They can remove them while performing traditional ballroom or Latin dances. But most dancers keep them on anyway. 8"It's something beautiful for us because we're older, but we can still put ourselves in play," said 70-year-old Franco Cauli. He is training with his 74-year-old partner for a competition at the end of April. 9Cauli said he felt safe with the health measures taken by the dance center. Other dancers, he said, followed the measures seriously and obey them. 10The Italian Dance Sport Federation has ruled that 34 dancers are permitted to train in a place the size of New Dancing Days. Currently all 34 dancers at the center, aged nine to 76, train up to five days a week. 11From a viewing area above the dance floor, Serafini observes her dancers and shouts directions to them. If she sees something wrong, she will stop the music, go down to the dance floor and show the correct way to do a step, pose, or turn. 12"The school is my great pride," she said. "When I see them on the dance floor, it is like I am there." 13I'm Anna Matteo. 14Alessandra Tarantino reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 15_________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17lockdown -n. the confinement of people to a restricted area for a temporary period as a security measure 18gracefully -adv. moving in a smooth and attractive way 19warm-up -n. the act or an instance of preparing for a performance or a more strenuous activity 20pose -n. to hold or cause to hold a special position of the body 21pride -n. a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people