An illustration from Debbie Allen’s “Brothers of the Knight.”

By Debra Cash

A single preacher raising a dozen adopted boys smiles when they line up their sneakers before they tuck in for the night. Nonetheless, he is perplexed when every morning the sneakers are worn through.

No, this isn’t a horror show, although if you’ve ever priced sneakers for a growing teen, you have some idea the emotion this could generate; it’s Brothers of the Knight, an urban revision of the Brothers Grimms’ Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Brothers of the Knight is spearheaded by Debbie Allen, the dancer/choreographer/teacher who first told the tale in a picture book. Allen, of course, is best known to the younger set for her stint as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.

The Arts Fuse doesn’t usually publicize auditions, but it’s news that Allen is swinging through Boston this week seeking young dancers between the ages of seven and 22. The dancers selected will play a five city tour this summer with Boston dates scheduled for June 26-29, 2014.

Local auditions are being held on March 29. The producers are looking for young dancers of all ethnicities with strong skills in hip-hop, gymnastics, tap and singing. Bring a resume and a headshot. Honoraria for young cast members will be between $100-$400/week depend on the size of the role, which the Fuse assumes has been cleared with the appropriate child labor and union folks.

Debra Cash has reported, taught and lectured on dance, performing arts, design and cultural policy for print, broadcast and internet media. She regularly presents pre-concert talks, writes program notes and moderates events sponsored by World Music/CRASHarts and cultural venues throughout New England. A former Boston Globe and WBUR dance critic, she is a two-time winner of the Creative Arts Award for poetry from the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute and will return to the 2014 Bates Dance Festival as Scholar in Residence.

c 2014 Debra Cash