Dancing Diary: No turning back now

What was I thinking? What if I'm useless? What on Earth is a samba?

Those were just a few of the thoughts running through my mind on the first night of my Harcourts Rotorua Dancing with the Stars journey.

Looking around the room at the other 19 people who had put their hands up, or been talked into, learning how to dance in just 15 weeks, I don't think I was the only one having doubts.

Even as those running the event talked us through the process, you could see everyone sizing each other up. Yet to be put into couples, we were all desperate to find out whose toes we would be trodding on for the next few months.

After the formalities we went into the hall and spent 10 minutes learning a basic jive step. While I felt a little like a rhino on a tightrope at first, it was nice to start getting a feel for it and realise I might not be a total lost cause.

The Harcourts Rotorua Dancing with the Stars couples on day one of their adventure. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Two days later we were back, learning some more basics and getting to know the other dancers (can we call ourselves dancers yet?) As our instructors Shelley Martin and Troy Smith mixed and matched us looking for the best combinations.

At the end of the week we had the big reveal - much like the television show Married at First Sight, we were about to be coupled with someone we barely knew.

Throughout the practice sessions, I got along really well with Natasha Whitewood, who is already a local celebrity after appearing on My Kitchen Rules. By "got along well", I mean she was happy to laugh at my awkwardly lame jokes.

I think we were both relieved to find we had been paired up (well, I hope she was too).

While I'm a routine and structure kind of guy, Tash is the complete opposite which I think will help me loosen up a bit.

Now's when it all really begins, as we move on to the next phase looking at music and a style of dance.

Despite my initial concerns, I'm actually really looking forward to the process and once a week I will give readers an inside look at the whole journey as we help to raise money for a fantastic cause - Rotorua Hospice.