Amber Riley rose to fame playing diva-in-training Mercedes Jones on Glee. Now, she’s taking her performing career to the next level as a contestant on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars! Alongside pro dancer Derek Hough, the show’s only four-time champion, Riley will put her cha-cha, jive, and samba skills to the test.

Every week this season, Riley is blogging for Parade.com about her insider’s take on the drama before and after each performance. Read her blog every week at Parade.com/dwts.

You can also follow her on Twitter @MsAmberPRiley or check out her official Facebook page Facebook.com/MsAmberPRiley.

It feels overwhelming to have won three 9s on the first night! It’s really, really exciting. I’m happy with the scores, but at the same time, I feel like this has jump-started me to work even harder in rehearsals. Honestly, I didn’t think people would pay much attention to me! All I wanted was to do a good job.

I was very nervous last night, but I always just try to keep in mind that this is supposed to be fun. At the end of the day, winning doesn’t mean the world—but it does mean a lot to me personally to go out and do my best. When Derek dipped me at the end, I just started hysterically laughing because I realized, I really did this! I was really on a dance floor and pointing my toes and extending my arms and turning really fast. These are things that I watched when I was a kid on television, and I actually got to do it and have the feeling of being a real dancer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYcI0igCObc

Derek is an amazing coach. He’s very hard, which is good for me, because he pushes me past what I thought my limits were, and I completely, tremendously have surpassed what I thought I could do. He’s also extremely funny, and so encouraging. He always has something motivational to say to get me through rehearsal! There was a point when we were doing the jive, and I just couldn’t get the kick right, and he said, “Stop. Stop saying you don’t like it.”

He told me to keep screaming, “I love the jive, I love the jive!” And even though it felt completely silly, it helped create a positive association with the jive, and with that specific move, so when I thought about it, I would get it. And it’s actually working because I’m having fun learning the jive now! (I’m making sure I wear extra sports bras, maybe even some duct tape for all the jumping we’ll be doing!)

If I was voted off next week, I would have absolutely, positively no regrets about anything that I did. I would probably still be calling Derek to take some more classes…except I would probably have to pay him then!

Sometimes I run into the other contestants during rehearsal, and it’s become kind of like a communal little family in our rehearsal hall. It’s funny because, especially before the first dance, all of us were so nervous, and we could talk to each other and say, “Oh my God, you guys, I’m terrified!” It was also great to see some of the female pros during rehearsal. I’ve been able to ask them to show me certain steps, and see how their body would move.

When it comes to getting ready the night of the show—I had no idea of the process it takes to prepare! You have to do camera blocking, dress rehearsals, and hair and makeup. My hair took forever because he wanted to get it just right. The hair and makeup team and the wardrobe department, are absolutely amazing. They’re like little elves up there, creating these amazing, wonderfully fitted costumes! It’s a dream come true to be clothed with every stitch of silver and rhinestone God has ever placed on this earth.

It was also wonderful to have my Glee cast mates cheering me on last night. They were all excited when I told them I was doing it—each and every one of them was screaming and saying, “Are you serious? Oh my God!” We’ve all gone out and danced before, so they know that I can dance, but none of us knew what would come of this. I could have looked like a complete fool because honestly, having rhythm is only a third of the battle. You have to really know the steps and have great technique. So, it was encouraging to have them there.

Also, half of my family was there: my mom, my dad, my niece, my two sisters, my brother-in-law, my grandmother, my great aunt, and my aunt! My management was there, too. Everybody was there to support me, and it just felt amazing. It was also really cool to know Jennifer Lopez was in the audience! I was like, “Oh my God, J Lo’s here!” I’m such a big fan of hers.

Watching everyone else’s performances last night, I’ve got to say—Corbin Bleu is amazing. His technique is crazy. He’s just an amazing dancer. And Bill Nye has everyone’s heart; I want to vote for him, because come on, let’s be honest, it’s Bill Nye the Science Guy. I could say something positive about each and every single person on that dance floor last night and why they deserve to win, because I understand how hard it has been, and how much work and heart everyone put into it. So I can honestly say that everybody’s my competition—including myself!

Last night, I also wanted to prove to some girls that they can go out and move and do it. I think sometimes you get a little discouraged, because people see people at a certain size—or at my size particularly—as lazy people who don’t move or can’t do anything. I just want people to know that I put myself out there, dancing in a little skirt that I would never wear in real life, shook it in front of the whole world, and I think I did a really good job!

I’m really proud of what I did, and if I did it, you can do it too. Don’t let people put any stipulations or any boundaries around you. You can work past it–don’t let anybody put limits on you. I just want to be that example that proves you can get out there and move if you want to. If you want to start tomorrow, take a Zumba class or a ballet class, or a Latin class, or a ballroom dancing class or a salsa class! Whatever it is, you can do it.

Next week, as I mentioned, we’ll be doing the jive, and it’s going to be a really fun number. It’s a Jackie Wilson song, and I have an amazing connection to him because he’s a singer to I loved listening to with my grandfather. So the jive’s going to be fun. Look out for it!