Meet Eriberto Jimenez | Executive and Artistic Director of the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center

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

Hi Eriberto, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Coming from a poor upbringing in Bogota Colombia where I had to assert myself and work from an early age influenced how I persevere in life and my work. If there was something that had to be done that no one else would do I would always step in and jump off the deep end and learn from the experience. Making my way from a young age alone in the United States gave me this strength and focus and defined who I have become.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The lessons and I believe what sets me apart are perseverence, hard work and dedication to my craft and the continuation leading the organizations, the Miami Hispanic Ballet Corp, owner of the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center and producer for the past 25 years of the International Ballet Festival of Miami inviting Principal dancers representing international ballet companies and Contemporary companies; the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, created in 2007 to highlight the exiled Cuban ballet dancers and keep alive the great artistic technique and classical ballet repertoire and Creation Art Center the organization that presents our artistic programming at the MHCAC, for the community and visitors, mush orf which is free and open to the public. It is not easy to balance business and the artistic aspects, teaching, choreographing, writing grants, presenting performances and running the day to day business. With effort all can be accomplished if you just believe in your work and youself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Miami is so diverse. Our Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center is located in a beautiful historic Little Havana gem of a building. We would of course explore Calle Och! South beach has so much to offer from great restaurants and clubs to the wonderful beaches and historic Art Deco architecture. Then there are all the great attractions such as the beautiful Viscaya, Botanical Gardens and zoo. There is too much to list!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to Founder and Director of the aforementioned organizations Maestro Pedro Pablo Pena, who passed away 3 years ago. Mr. Pena helped me hone my craft and helped guide me in my professional life. For over 20 years of being his right hand and the co- founder with him of these important Miami non profit organizations I was chosen as his successor upon his passing. And all the other established dance companies working hard in Miami.

Website: www.miamihispanicculturalartscenter.org

Facebook: miamihispanicculturalartscenter

Other: www.internationalballetfestival.org www.cubanclassicalballetofmiami.org www.creationartcenter.org