The WRANGLER Horse and Rodeo News is an equine and rodeo publication with circulation in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Utah and Idaho.
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Her parents helped as they began booking singing gigs. It was mostly restaurants and festivals at that time. Her recording career started at age sixteen with her first release. When her family moved back to Texas from Colorado in 2020, she got to a point where she was booking 150 plus gigs by herself. In the summer between her senior year of high school and freshman year of college, she drove hundreds of miles and spent countless hours on the road doing radio shows and interviews promoting her new singles. Not letting one passion die for another, Allora would interview and sing all day, then drive the long hours back home at night, just to get up and go to a horse show the next morning. As she neared the end of her senior year in high school, it was time to make some life choices. Allora decided that she wanted to pursue a professional music career. One option was South Plains College, in Levelland, Texas, which has a standout music program. Her research of the school revealed great names like Lee Ann Womack, Waylon Jennings, the banjo player for Taylor Swift, Natalie Maines from The Dixie Chicks, and many others as alumni. Allora and her mother made a trip to visit, and soon discovered that it would be a great fit for refining her skills and furthering her education. "South Plains College was a really good way for me to polish myself. It answered a lot of questions as to why country music sounds a particular way." Allora explained that music is more complicated than just identifying a sound. "It's really fascinating!" Fast forward to November of 2023. Allora was approached by drum instructor Phil Smith with a life changing opportunity, in which, he knew she'd be perfect for. Smith had performed and been the band leader for a few Cirque Du Soleil shows in his former career. Not having any courses with the instructor, she was shocked by his interest in her talent. He informed her that the theatrical performance company was holding auditions for a female and male lead in their newest country version of Cirque Du Soleil, Song Blazers. The requirement was that you had to be able to sing and play an instrument. That was no problem for Allora. Overwhelmed with the thought of it all, a special friend's encouragement was just what she needed. She soon submitted her application. Within twenty-four hours of submission, she heard back from the management team. A mere week later, she was on a plane. Her audition included being given a couple of songs to perform. Wearing her custom cowboy hat, t-shirt, belt buckle, and boots, it was just a normal day for Allora. This presence intrigued the directors. A couple of weeks later she did a video meeting with the director/writer and creative director of the show. While in Houston, in the middle of recording a record, Allora received the email which formally offered her the lead female singing role for the show. "And then the journey began. It was a huge, huge whirlwind! I didn't expect it at all." Swinging from the ropes of the Corde Lisse, Allora is now on tour with the Cirque Du Soleil Song Blazers show for eighteen months, with stops all across the United States. "It is fun! It reminded me of my horses. They said, 'You're going to spin really fast so make sure to focus on a stationary object.' I said, 'It's just like spinning (my horses) you guys. I told the male lead that I am just going to be looking at his inside ear," Allora shared jokingly. She plans to just enjoy where this takes her for now, with hopes to return to showing her beloved cowhorses soon enough. Meanwhile, her talented mother will be keeping her horses in shape and showing them for her. For more information or to follow along with Allora's journey, you can do so at www.alloraleonardmusic.com or social media at, alloraleonardmusic. You can find information on the Song Blazers show at www.CirqueDuSoleil.com Left: Allora Leonard-Hank circles a cow in the SHOT World Show. Photo Credit: Kelsey Hellman Right: Allora and musical cast members perform in Song Blazers, Photo Credit: Cirque Du Soleil