IT wouldn't quite be true to say I've never danced before. After all, I did attempt that daft Madness knees-up-and-down dance to Baggy Trousers at a school disco in 1984.

Those were my glory days, followed by many years lurking at the edge of dance floors nursing a pint of lager while watching those blessed with far more spacial awareness and coordination.

So it was with some reluctance I lumbered into Greenhills Community Centre in Wheatley Hill, County Durham, to join several others to master the Charleston.

It didn't exactly help my confidence our two female instructors looked like they had sashayed straight from Strictly.

However, I told myself it was at least a cause worth publicising - so offered myself up to the temple of Craig Revel Horwood!

The good intention is get the 3,000 souls of Wheatley Hill - including middle-aged bar flies - up and dancing and able to put on a show in front of a packed house next Easter.

If it takes off it will be good for fitness, good for mental well-being, community cohesion and good fun, so they say.

It started as a throw away conversation between Hilary Jamieson, operations manager at Wheatley Hill Community Association, and Bethany Ainsley, director of dance course providers Nouveau Dance and Fitness.

"We had our ladies classes and the kids classes," said Hilary. "And one of us just said, 'why don't we blend them, shake it up?"

That sparked interest across Wheatley Hill's dance enthusiasts.

Eventually the Lottery issued a grant of £9,600 to provide 250 hours of free dance experiences for everyone from tots to serious dancers.

As we speak, Hilary points out a woman in her 80s, a regular at zumba class, dancing alongside a girl aged eight or nine-years-old.

The plan is to use existing classes and during the holidays combine different groups. It's hoped a show can be staged next year but Hilary wants the ideas to come from those involved.

Predictably, the day I showed up, there were no other blokes dancing.

"We get them interested in ballroom," says one of our dance instructors, Fiona Scott who mentions the Strictly Come Dancing effect.

Her colleague. Shelley Baxter, explains the Nouveau Dance team are not just dancers but many also have backgrounds in psychology and mental health. It seems there's more to all this dancing than just messing around.

Then it's my dreaded moment as I prepare my two left feet for lift off.

Stumbling to the front there's a girl, about ten, to the left and a lady to the right.

They've never danced together before but somehow manage to be in time with each other and Fiona and Shelley.

This seems nothing short of miraculous. "Come on, Chris," shouts villager Dorothy Peacock from behind, "keep up."

Keep up? I can barely move. At one point I bump into the lady to my right...again. She smiles...again. I stop altogether until Fiona's encouraging smile and the wolfish grin of our photographer makes me jerk into life again, like a misfiring dump truck.

Let's just say, I am not expecting a call from Strictly any time soon but our dancing instructors are kind.

"Brilliant," laughs Fiona, a little too hard, afterwards.

We both know she's more likely referring to my entertainment value rather than performance.

* For details on the project contact Hilary Jamieson, Operations Manager, Wheatley Hill Community Association, Greenhills Centre, Stephens Terrace, Wheatley Hill on 01429 820214.