Since the age of three Kati Manning always told her dad how she wanted to help entertain crowds at major international sporting events.
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After a lot of hard work and commitment the Illawarra Hawks’ cheerleader is heading to the USA to live this weekend after successfully auditioning for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.
Ms Manning’s final duty before taking up her opportunity of a lifetime was to help JLD Entertainment select the the squad for the Illawarra team in the 2018/19 NBL season.
The auditions at the Snakepit on Saturday came just a week after Ms Manning was auditioning in Denver.
“Because of making it through to the NBA with the Denver Nuggets I won’t be able to do my second season with the Hawks. But Jacqueline Elliott who runs the cheerleading squad through JLD Entertainment asked me to sit on the panel to help judge the auditions.”
Ms Manning, 27, did eight years with the NRL before becoming a cheerleader for the Hawks.
She said she loved cheerleading in the NBL team and hopes her success in gaining an international opportunity in the NBA will inspire other cheerleaders in the Illawarra.
“I just loved the atmosphere at the Illawarra Hawks’ games. It is such a close-knit community in Wollongong and the fans are absolutely incredible. They are so friendly. They are so supportive of the team itself and all the players. It is just a lovely city,” she said.
Ms Manning is an only child and said her parents were really excited she had achieved a lifelong dream to work with an NBA team.
That was made possible with the help of the Ms Elliot and JLD Entertainment.
“A year ago Jacqueline who runs JLD took me to a choreography convention in Pheonix. She was invited the year before to choreograph there. When she was invited back again she took me as her assistant,” she said.
“I was able to dance with many of the NBA professional dancers. And while I was there I met the coach of the Denver Nuggets. I took one of her classes at the convention. I thought she was fantastic. I love the way she coached and I loved her style.”
Prior to that trip Ms Manning had been thinking about auditioning for an NBA team but was not sure which one.
After taking the class she started researching the Nuggets dancers and organisation and decided it was the team she wanted to dance for and represent.
But achieving that takes hard work and commitment.
“I holidayed in Denver in April for a week to see the town and I just fell in love with it. Colorado is just beautiful. The first day of auditions was Saturday the 14th of July,” she said.
“I made it through the first two rounds and then made it through to the third round and became a semi finalist for the training week.”
Of the 100 cheerleaders who made the training week only 33 became finalists who then did three nights of rehearsals, interviews and photo shoots
“The final audition was on Saturday the 21st of July. I was successful and I made the team. I move back there this weekend,” she said.
“This is my childhood dream come true. I have been dancing since I was three years old.”
“When I was a little girl going to football games I always said to my dad this is what I want to do. Sporting events over there are on whole other level. NBA games are huge over there. So I decided to take my dream and audition for an NBA team. I definitely believe it is going to be the pinnacle of my career.”
“I am very proud. I have been chasing this dream for a very long time.”
Parents Sue and Peter Manning are also very proud and excited for their daughter after taking her to all her dance classes, competitions and performances in the NRL and NBL.
“They are very understanding and supportive of what my passion is and what I love to do.”
The NBA season coincides with the NBL season so Ms Manning won’t be able to do both.
She starts pre-season training on August 6 for the official NBA season start in October.
Ms Manning’s success is already inspiring other Illawarra dancers to aim high and fly fast.
Her advice is to work hard.
Because like anything you can’t just expect things to fall into your hands.
“If you want something you need to work hard and you need to chase it,” she said.
Ms Manning said even in those moments when she hasn’t succeeded she decided to keep going because she doesn’t want to live her life wondering what if.
She is not one who will ever sit just there and say “I could have done that”.
“You have got to give yourself a chance and give it a go has been my attitude and mentality,” she said.
“I am also a dance teacher. And I want to constantly inspire my students and my fellow team mates. If you put the hard work in and you chase your dream it is all possible. Then when you do succeed it is very full-filling. When they called my name that I made the team I just cried with joy.”
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
