Meet Jose Jaimes | Executive Director Tierra Caliente Academy of Arts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jose Jaimes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jose, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
When we first started the Academy as a non-profit, our mission statement and vision were key in laying out the work that would come before us. That was 2014, fast forward to today, we are known in our Cultural Arts Community as an academy that values “Respect and Discipline” as keys to the outreach and representation that we do in our community. The most important factor behind the success of our brand is consistency. It starts with our leadership, from our Executive Director, to the board of directors, to our instructors. Being a performing arts academy, our end product is what we produce on stage. But the road there is what defines the success. The Cultural Arts are the heart of a community, for it defines who they are as a whole. When our students step on stage, they are representing hundreds of years of history, and understanding that is based on the Respect and Discipline they were taught in our studio.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The life and success of an artist is defined by all the struggles, the times you stumbled, the barriers you encountered, those really tough phases, but most important, what did you learn from them and how it made you stronger, both mentally and emotionally. As a representative of the branch of Mexican Folklore Dance, the biggest challenge was trying to redefine how a community perceived it. Folk dance is usually seen as a hobby, but we have been working to redefine it as a discipline. It has not been easy, but this is where consistency is key. Our academy works as a school of dance, where you sign up to become a dancer, a representative of our cultural arts, a performer. We have many signature events and productions that are key in defining that discipline. It is important to know that the Arts are key in understanding each other in a very diverse community. It’s about celebrating our similarities and respecting our differences; and only the arts provide that educational tool. A more vibrant and unified community with

music, dance, art and more.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
North County San Diego has much to offer for anyone, in our case, without a doubt our schedule would include many visits to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Not only do they have a very diverse program in shows they present, but have a museum, educational department and much space if you wanted to simply set up for a picnic. Because we love to support local business, breakfast would be at ‘timeout cafe” in Vista. Family owned and they are the ones serving you, food is great and service makes you want to go back. Lunch and or dinner would have to be “Cocina del Charro” in San Marcos or Escondido. Not only do they have a huge variety in their Menu, but the owner is very much involved in the community, giving back, serving others and making that needed difference.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
While of Tierra Caliente Academy leadership is great, we understand that community work, outreach and representation can’t and shouldn’t be done alone. There are two key partners that deserve credit in our current success; and they are the “California Center for the Arts, Escondido” and “Route 78 Rotary Club”. They have been with us since the beginning, from when we were inside our shell, mapping out our vision, defining our cultural representation, and simply supporting in tough times. There is still much to do in our community, specially as we transition to the “new normal” and organization partnerships will be key in fixing what the pandemic has broken.

Website: www.academytc.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tierracaliente_academy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tierra-caliente-academy-of-arts

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tierracalienteacademy

Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/tierracalienteacademyofarts

Image Credits
Photographers: Patrick Christman and Oscar Gonzalez