Jaynene Johnson

A first generation California girl, Jaynene, also known as Mama Jay, cherishes her Jamaican heritage, although has grown roots in Mendocino County, Northern California for almost 15 years.

A mother of 4, she balances her career as a Health & Wealth Advocate, Event Coordinator, and Caterer in her business the Zocalo Collective with her favorite position as Mom.

Dance has always been a love of Jaynene’s and good medicine. When she was introduced to West African Dance she says that she, "Found something I didn’t know I was looking for, and it felt like a piece of my soul was given back to me. The drumming, the movement, the freedom of the hips, the joy, it all speaks to my heart. I revere the strong and vibrant African dance community we have in Mendocino County." Mama Jay has enjoyed performing in multiple dance ensembles on many stages such as Benbow Summer Arts Festival, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Kinetic Carnival, Space Theater, & Burning Man.

Her teaching opportunities began in 2018 after getting certified as a Buti Yoga instructor and then creating her own flow, Primal Rhythm, which seamlessly weaves yoga, African dance, primal movement & plyometrics.

In 2022, she developed her Rhythm, Flow, and Dance for Youths, and was delighted to encourage her class to connect with the beat and their creativity and move in new ways.

She has shared her movement offerings at Willits Center for the Arts, Mendocino Starz Gymnastics,  Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposium, Facebook and YouTube.

Mama Jay is now exploring the connection between movement and our emotions, studying the benefit of movement for more than just our bodies, but also for our mind and spirit.