Customer Reviews

Dance Jam Productions

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The story of Mataya (Mattie) Black Hawk is beautiful, heart-touching, and engrossing. We get to see Mattie mature and grow, face her fears, and even fall in love. Mattie is an amazing character that anyone can relate to and love.

Mattie has a secret, a secret to her past that no one (not even her best friends) knows of, except Tykota, who is her uncle and her guardian, that is, until Jarek Thanos comes onto the scene and turns Mattie's world upside-down. Jarek Thanos is Mattie's dance partner for a dance competition hosted by the local, ever-popular teen dance TV-show, Dance Jam Productions. Jarek is kind, gentle, and caring. When he discovers Mattie's scars from her tragic past, she opens up to him in a way she'd never done for anyone before.

Meanwhile, local teens are being dragged into a dark, twisted plot that involves rich villains, organ-stealing bandits, and the illustrious Black Market. Tykota is the owner of Black Hawk Protection Agency, whose business protects children and teenagers. When local teens disappear at Dance Jam Productions' V.I.P. parties and reappear with an organ missing, Tykota takes the job and provides extra security at the dance competition, where he suspects more kidnappings will occur and that Dance Jam Productions is behind the twisted scheme.

Mystery and suspense, romance, and a self-growth inspirational, Dance Jam Productions is a breathtaking story for all ages. Celise Downs has a wonderfully unique voice that grabs you by the throat on the first page and hold you hostage until you've finished this epic tale.

Dance Jam Productions (DJP) needs two new regulars for their dance team. DJP is the hottest show for teens on the tube, so everyone wants to enter the contest. Produced in Phoenix, the program features music videos, movie reviews, and the latest music news. It's an hour-long dance party. Mattie Black Hawk, a senior at Catalina Valley High School, and her best friends, Mici and Ren, hear about DJP's dance search and decide to enter the contest.

In a fast paced writing style that sometimes feels like the beat of disco music, Celise Downs brings young adult readers a high school romance within the backdrop of mystery and intrigue. Mattie has a past she hides, even from her best friends. Only Tykota, her guardian and protector, knows the truth about her mysterious childhood. When she begins feeling close to Jarek Thanos, her contest dance partner, Mattie begins to realize secrets should be shared.

Celise Downs has a keen talent of exposing the minds of her characters. Slowly, she sprinkles her plot with details to flesh out her wonderfully orchestrated main character, Mattie. On the down side, I found the author's long descriptive expositions interrupting the flow of her story, and the adverbial phrases acting as attributions distracting.

However, Dance Jam Productions has a strong plot, dynamic characterization, and snappy dialogue making this book a fun read.

Mataya Black Hawk is a senior in high school now. She's also a girl with a past so horrible, she won't even share it with her best friends. Always enjoying dancing, she's very happy to working part-time at a dance studio. The fact she gets along well with her boss doesn't hurt either. When her friends tell her about a local teen dance TV show holding auditions for more dancers, Mataya is very excited and can't wait to "strut her stuff". When Mataya and her friends go to the audition, they find out it's couples only and Mataya ends up with her boss' nephew, Jarek Thanos as her partner.

Jarek Thanos has always been interested in dancing. He even takes classes with some of his friends, also auditioning to become regulars on Dance Jam Productions. When he ends up partnered with Mataya, he finds himself very attracted to her. There's just something about her that really gets to him. She's very mysterious about her past and Jarek is hoping one day she'll confide in him.

When Mataya's guardian, Tykota, tells her something is going on with the contest, they all become concerned.

Will Mataya and her friends stay in the contest? Will she return Jarek's affection? Will anyone ever find out about her past?

DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS is a highly intriguing Young Adult story. Celise Downs has done a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life in this story. The deeper we delve into this story, the more we discover about Mataya's mysterious past and the events that changed her into the person she is today. I really loved the hi-tech house Mataya lives in and her companion wolf. This is a wonderful story I highly recommend for all young adults.

Dance Jams Productions by Celise Downs is a very intense and interesting read that will captivate both teens and adults. 80's buffs will surely relate to the theme. The book is centered around a dance contest being sponsored by Dance Jams Productions, the hottest music video/dance entertainment show since MTV which is filmed in Phoenix. To me, it seemed like Mattie was crushin or truly in love with Tykoto her much older "protector," but Jarek is the new love who wants to know more about this mysterious lady. Tykoto encourages Mattie to open up to others about her past and to let people inside.

This book is so much more than a book about a dance contest. The author shares Mattie's rich heritage with the readers and also provides background info on Tykoto's Aztec Indian lifestyle. Mattie has suffered a terrible tragedy in her life, something so devestating that it's hard to imagine how she has moved on.

Dance Jams Productions shouldn't be confused with a light hearted book only about a dance contest. There is so much more to this book. Celise has crafted a story about a woman who has gone through so much in her life it makes a dance contest seem quite trivial. The scene in the book where Mattie was doing her annual ceremony with the music was just heart wrenching.

The book is really good. Being objective, I think the cover doesn't do the book much justice. Based on the animated cover one would think this was a light read for a tween (8-12), but this book is more mature, most likely a best fit for the junior high and high school crowd and beyond.

Dance Jams Productions is a really great book. I can't wait to read more from Celise! The pop culture references (Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," MTV, Tekken, Boyz II Men), were also kinda cool.

Dorrie Williams-Wheeler
Bella Teen Editor

Mataya Blackhawk has a secret past that she doesn't like to talk about and keeps it a secret from everyone including her best friends Renee and Mici and the only people who know about her mysterious life is Tykota her Native American guardian and agent.

The excitement begins when a boy named Jarek notices scares on Mataya Blackhawk's back and starts asking questions. She shies away from answering the questions by not answering them or closing up and never speaking to the person again. What could have been so tragic that she acts this way?
Mataya and her friends love to dance and one of their favorite dance shows is throwing a contest in which they entered and now Mataya, Jarek and the rest of the crew are right in the middle of it all.

Celise Downs who is also the author of Secrets and Kisses has done the mystery writing for teens again and she has done it well. This book was very good and full of mystery. The mystery of the scar on Mataya's back will capture your interest and the attacks at the Dance Jam Productions. Are the scars that mysteriously end up on the people done by aliens? One would never know until they read the book.

She is a very good mystery writer for the youth because she is not corny and there is always a lot to look forward to at the end of the book.

S. Elitou

I couldn't put this book down! Mataya Black Hawk lives with her guardian Tykota. He is her protector-"with a capital P!" The reason Mataya lives with a guardian instead of her family plays into the mystery and intrigue that is "Dance Jam Productions." Mataya loves to dance with her friends. When local dancers wind up missing some very unusual-and necessary-belongings, Mataya, her guardian and his friends have a very strange mystery to solve.

In addition to the fun and fast pace of creating dance routines with her partner and friend Jarek, Mataya finds herself faced with danger and fear. She relies on her "protector" to help solve the mystery.

I liked this book. It didn't seem like a mystery at first, so when it unfolded it was unusual and fun to read.

One-Third Love Story, One-Third Mystery and One-Third Action-Adventure.

Reviewed by Tyrone Vincent Banks

I received an autographed copy of this book with a very professional media kit a few weeks ago. I advised the author that I was impressed with the cover - which set the tone for the wonderful story that was enclosed - and she passed the compliment on to her illustrator. The matching bookmark and other enclosures made me envious of Celise Downs and her book - which is one of many to come.
Dance Jam Productions is a local television show similar to American Bandstand or Soul Train. They are hosting a dance contest that will assemble a team of dancers that will become regulars on the show. Mataya "Mattie" Black Hawk is a talented dancer with a secret past. Forever reminded of a personal tragedy that has scarred her for life, she expresses herself through dancing and music to escape from the load that she must bear. Her confidant, protector and friend; Tykota Black Hawk, has cared for her since she was young and provides a positive environment for her to flourish in. She has decided to enter Dance Jam Productions' contest and in doing so - she will change her life.
She meets Jarek Thanos in her dance studio one afternoon and they exchange words. They both love to dance and are compatible in many ways - however - Mattie is cautious, she does not "let anyone in" too often. The two are paired up at the dance contest and it is evident that they look well together. While rehearsing for this contest - they kiss. Mattie and Jarek feel a spiritual attraction to one another and after a twist of fate; Mattie is forced to tell Jarek "everything."
That "everything" explains Mattie's physical appearance, including her beautiful blue-eyes. There is so much more to this young lady and so many memories that have shaped her being. Tykota, who is also a father-figure as well as a big brother to Mattie, also encourages Mattie to let someone else in to aid in her healing process. Mattie will let Jarek in and brief him on Tykota's mission. Teenagers in the area are being abducted and their organs are being sold on the black market. There is only one factor that unites all of the victims, Dance Jam Productions. Mattie and Jarek must team up to prevent another horrible kidnapping and organ theft.
This book is one-third love story, one-third mystery and one-third action-adventure. The words entice you to read on and all elements of the plot are strategically placed in a fashion that will captivate your imagination. The end of the story is much like a new beginning and we are certain to find Mattie, Jarek and Tykota enthralled in another adventure soon. Celise Downs has created a new type of hero, based on reality and created from flesh and blood as opposed to ink and paper.
This book is a must read for young adults and adults, there is something for everyone at Dance Jam Productions.

Mataya "Mattie" Black Hawk has lived with Tykota "Ty" Black Hawk since she was seven. Their home is in Arizona and is very high tech from the security defenses to the pair of half-tame wolves. To anyone who looked at Mattie, they'd see only a normal teenaged girl. No one would ever suspect her horrible past. The only ones who know her secrets were Tykota and his Navy SEAL team. And since that fateful day, when Mattie was seven-years-old, Ty has been not only her guardian, but her "Protector with a capitol P."

The local popular teen dance show, "Dance Jam Productions", is looking for three new regular dance couples. Mataya Black Hawk and Jarek Thanos become partners by chance. They become one of twelve finalists and must now work together to create a dance routine. Mattie tries to keep him at a distance for fear he would learn her secrets. A secret that even her best friends, Ren and Mici, do not know.

Now local teens are becoming pawns in a black market project. All the evidence is pointing at Dance Jam Productions. Mattie must face her past and tell Jarek her secrets. Then the dance pair, with Tykota's team, must find out who is behind it all ... before Mattie and Jarek are targeted.

***** Author Celise Downs guarantees to please with this explosive novel! Action, suspense, a bit of romance, and dancing all come together in this thriller novel for teens. In fact, you could consider this a sneak preview of a new series involving Black Hawk Protection Agency. (Estimated to begin in June 2005.) Once I began reading, I could not stop. It is that wonderful. Highly recommended! Brava, Celise Downs! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Mataya 'Mattie' Black Hawk loves dancing. Music, more than anything else, helps her deal with the scars of her childhood. In her effort to land a spot as a regular on a local teen dance show, she gets more than she bargained for. This is a mystery adventure for young adults that is fun and moves along well. The plot moves quickly, with the right balance of character development and action. It's great to have a mystery with good clean fun. Although principally just a fictional novel, teens trying to come to grips with 'family secrets' or dealing with life-altering trauma may find a kindred spirit in Mattie. It's a nice follow-on to Secrets and Kisses. If you haven't read Secrets & Kisses yet, buy both. Even if you aren't a teen anymore, you'll like this book.

I enjoyed the Celise's second book much more than the first for starters because the "action" plot got as much or more time as the "romance" plot. I liked that the main character was able to take down the bad guy and that it was much more girl-empowering than the first.

The snappy dialogue and the mostly up-to-date slang are still in place, but it managed to have a totally different mood than the first. I was very pleased with that, because in first person narration the personality of the character has to come across. I've noticed in other books that the first-person narrator's personality seems to be the same in all of the author's books, and probably reflects the personality of the author.

The characters are not of the type you meet every day--a French psychic, a skater chick, ex-commando body-guards, wolves. But they are real people; Celise has a flair for characterizations.

The plot was well-paced, though the climax was over too quickly, I thought, but I always want good things to last for longer. Incidentally, I liked how just enough clues were laid out to make the reader figure out the bad guy before the book made it to the same conclusion. It makes readers feel smart, and everybody likes somebody who makes them feel smart.

All in all, fantastic book. I hope to soon be reading a lot more in the same vein.