It takes two to tango and only one to make a difference in a child’s life.

The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership (RIMP) is hosting their annual Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring on April 30.

For the event local “celebrities” are paired with professional dancers from Dancin’ Feelin’ to raise money for RIMP. The eight pairs, four female and male celebrities, have been practicing their performances since January. They met each other for the first time Wednesday at a “meet and greet” at the Coastway Community Bank headquarters in Warwick.

Jo-Ann Schofield, president and CEO of RIMP, said that more than to stir a sense of competitiveness the meet and greet was to help the celebrities feel more like a team.

She said, “They may all see each other practicing in the studio, but we wanted to build up excitement for the event without them having to be practicing.”

RIMP staff, past dancers and others were present for the event, giving words of encouragement and thanks to this year’s dancers.

Jana Planka, the chief retail officer for Coastway, a mentor and a dancer for 2011’s Dancing with the Stars, said the day of the competition the lights would be so bright dancers won’t even be able to see the audience.

“They just need to relax and not worry about it. All of a sudden it will just click, then it will be like riding a bike – you’ll never forget. I still remember most of my dance routine,” she said.

Coastway hosted the meet and greet, and Planka said that the bank tries to support RIMP the best way they can and were happy to provide a meeting space on Wednesday night.

Coastway is also sponsoring the silent auction on the night of the competition.

Mario Hilario from NBC10 will be one of the hosts for the night and will open the festivities with a dance number of his own, what he called “breaking the ice” for all the other performers.

“This year’s opening number is something we have never done before. It’s a throwback. A classic with a bit of a twist,” Hilario said.

To ease some of the nerves of this year’s first time dancers, Hilario suggested once on stage they picture themselves back in the studio with no one else but their partner.

A past dancer himself, Hilario said, “You work so hard for so long it’s going to go by so quick. Once it’s over you want to do it again. ”

At the meet and greet some of the dancers excitedly discussed their routines and how hard they have been working, but it hasn’t been smooth for everyone.

Lindy Matarese from Textron will dance to a song from the movie “Burlesque” but scared her partner Josh Morgenstein when she showed up to their practice in January on crutches. At the time she had volunteered, Matarese had no idea she would tear her meniscus and need knee surgery. That didn’t stop her though; now she says she gets through practice and hopes she is back 100 percent for the performance.

She said, “My dance is sort of a quickstep fusion. There’s a little jazz, a little samba. It is just so much fun.”

For some, Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring is a family affair. There is a bit of sibling rivalry because sisters Karen Roche from GTECH and Kathy Demarest from Amgen will both be dancing on April 30.

Roche, who is dancing with Randy Deats, will be performing to the song “Turn Down for What?,” the song her daughter Charlotte Roche suggested.

When asked if her mother was a good dancer, Charlotte had a huge smile on her face and said yes. Charlotte said that she is excited to see her mom dance in front of so many people.

Roche says her practices are going well, but there are still some “kinks” that need to be worked out.

“We still step on each other’s feet, but that’s mostly my fault,” Roche said. “It is so different learning to dance with a partner and it’s not easy.”

Christina Markrush, who grew up as a mentee and then became one herself, is dancing to “Love Shack” and said her performance is coming together faster than she thought. She is nervous for competition day but said she is just as excited to know that RIMP will be benefiting.

“I was a mentee and I know how big of an impact mentors can have and anyway I can find a way to give back is perfect,” Markrush said.

Hilario said, “We all want to see the dancers, but it’s important to remember what they are competing for, and the mentoring program is just such a great cause.”

Roche agreed and said that working closely for the event has reminded her of what a fantastic program RIMP is.

She said, “Everyone at the mentoring partnership, doing this dance, it just goes to show what an impact one person can make and the difference one mentor can make for a child.”

Schofield said, “There is just so much excitement all night long, it’s the best fun. Trust me, you will get a lot of bang for $75.”

Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring will be April 30 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet hosted by Mario Hilario and Lite Rock 105’s Heather Gersten. Along with the dancing performances there will be dinner and a silent auction at the event. Tickets cost $75 per person. For more information or to make your reservation visit www.mentorri.org or call their offices at 732-7700.