DECATUR - Gayle Saunders figures if professional dance partners can make the celebrities look good on TV's "Dancing With the Stars," then there's hope for her.

That's part of the reason the Richland Community College president is stepping out of her comfort zone and onto the dance floor for Celebrities Dancing for Dollars, a fundraiser for United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln.

"I love watching the TV show," Saunders said. "I'm always up to doing something once, especially for a good cause."

The other three celebrities in the contest, part of the agency's Life Without Limits Celebration this weekend, are Amy Bliefnick, manager of the Illinois State Fair; Tim Dudley, Realtor with Brinkoetter & Associates; and Kevin Hinton, owner of Maverick Marketing.

Saunders said she has little dance experience beyond growing up with a father who loved to dance.

"As long as I have someone to lead me, I can follow," she said.

Partnered with Zach Uttich, an admissions counselor at Millikin University who has taught dance classes for the Decatur Park District, she learned all the steps during their first rehearsal Feb. 20. They met a second time 10 days ago to put together and practice the first third of their routine.

They are doing a fox trot to "Fever" by Michael Buble.

An early choice was what to do when the trumpets blast after Buble sings "Fever" and before he continues with "in the morning."

"I think we should do something fun there," Uttich said.

"Isn't that where you're supposed to leap?" Saunders joked.

What they practiced was turning their heads smartly to look at themselves in the dance studio mirror - their imaginary audience.

"A lot of professional ballroom is done with your head," Uttich said. "Let's work on looking where we're going."

Uttich spent more time looking at her feet than she did looking at his as they went through a series that included box steps, toe taps, traveling steps, an underarm turn, a promenade, crossovers and a side promenade.

Saunders merely smiled at her occasional misstep and vowed, "I'll get it."

"She has a good attitude," Uttich observed.

"He's a great partner," she responded, "easy to understand. This is fun."

Cayla Hittmeier, director of development for United Cerebral Palsy, said the couple raising the most money will win the dance contest. The first Celebrities Dancing for Dollars a year ago helped the agency's Life Without Limits Celebration raise $13,000.

"The couples get pledges ahead of time, and then we put ballot boxes out that night for more donations," Hittmeier said. "The event was a sellout last year."

The celebrity winner in 2007 was Athena Rich, retail sales manager for the Herald & Review, who competed against Decatur city councilman Dan Caulkins and WAND-TV news anchor Sean Streaty.

"Zach is trying to make me look elegant," Saunders said. "I don't want him to look bad, so I'm going to practice hard."

Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@herald-review.com or 421-7978.

If you go

WHAT: United Cerebral Palsy Life Without Limits Celebration.

WHEN: 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 8

HIGHLIGHTS: Celebrities Dancing for Dollars, dinner, St. Patty's Day Green River Drink Fountain, live music from Rock of Ages, live and silent auctions, have your photograph taken by Shooting Stars Studio.

TICKETS: $50 per person or $500 per table of 10, with a pre-party for table sponsors at 5:30 p.m.

FOR MORE: Call 428-5033 or e-mail cayla.ucp@springnet1.com.