KEVIN Vanderkley knew there would be "a lot of hips" involved in dancing the Samba. What he found when he started his Latin dance lessons was that sometimes his feet and hips would move a little oddly, "more like a default Russian or ballet", he said.
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The Hearty Homes managing director was still feeling confident in his early work, six weeks out from Dancing with Our Stars gala charity event.
Plenty of his sub-contractors and suppliers were keen to watch what Mr Vanderkley served up, having pledged money to his campaign. Mr Vanderkley quipped most had probably donated for a laugh.
At the end of lessons I'm feeling pretty confident but by the start of the next I feel like we have to start again.
- Kevin Vanderkely, Dancing with Our Stars
"I had about four lessons, so it's a little bit daunting but coming along. At the end of lessons I'm feeling pretty confident but by the start of the next I feel like we have to start again," Mr Vanderkley said.
"A lot is about remembering a routine and that takes repetition. (This week) we had up to 60 per cent of the routine figured out."
Mr Vanderkley has partnered with experienced Ballarat dancer Holly Sewell for the event, which is a key fundraiser for The Ballarat Foundation.
He is one of 10 Ballarat stars to shine up their dance shoes and train under The Dance Studio's Shelley Ross.
Dancers are vying for the judges' choice and highest fundraising crowns. Mr Vanderkley was yet to see much of his rivals' progress, except for Masterchef finalist and toastie extraordinaire Tim Bone whose dance lessons were about the same time.
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"I've mostly been there concentrating on my moves and trying to remember what's next," Mr Vanderkley said.
Competitors will also unite in coming weeks to learn group dance for part of the extravaganza.
Dance lessons have also proved a good physical challenge for Mr Vanderkley amid pandemic restrictions. Rather than the exercise trends, his lockdowns had been spent reacquainting himself with old computer games.
Mr Vanderkley said the experience was not only building his fitness up but prompting him to eat healthier, too.
He has also been busy promoting his efforts via posters in Hearty Homes display houses, in his office and his former workplace Mars to encourage support.
The inaugural Dancing with Our Stars in 2019 raised more than $112,000 for The Ballarat Foundation's suite of community impact programs to help break the region's cycle of disadvantage.
Dancing with Our Stars is bringing glamour back to Civic Hall on March 20. To support the stars: dancing-with-our-stars.raisely.com.
