From choreographing a Waka Waka dance routine for ASB’s Halloween show to performing a poem at OFFF Festival in front of 3,000 people, Jade de Robles’ creative journey has been as vibrant and multifaceted as the cities she now calls home.
Jade, in white t-shirt, dancing at the Halloween parade.
“I was always only ever really good at English and art,” Jade laughs. “Words and visuals just came naturally to me. I could never sit still for hours of studying. I was always talking, doing, thinking. I guess it just made sense that I ended up here.”
That curiosity and restlessness have shaped a dynamic career spanning film, voice, and design. Today, Jade works between London and Barcelona, directing films, creating visual stories, and lending her voice to global projects.
What keeps her inspired?
“The variety of the work I do. The people I meet. And how it feeds my curiosity. I’ve had the chance to work on everything from grassroots documentary series for the UN in South America to a personal short film about turning thirty. I’m constantly finding inspiration in the people I meet and the things I learn.”
Living between two creative capitals also brings balance and perspective.
“London feeds my ambitious fire, and Barcelona allows me to take space and flow creatively. They complement each other, both so lively, vibrant, and energetic in their own way. And it gives me the perfect excuse to escape if one ever gets a bit much!”
Looking back on her ASB years, Jade says teachers like Ms. Lee, Ms. Lauscher, and Ms. Rowland were instrumental.
Working on the IB Art Journal
“They all encouraged me to stay curious, push myself, and believe I was capable of hard things. I felt a lot of support, trust, and freedom, exactly what a student needs to succeed.”
Some of Jade’s proudest moments include starting her own podcast about death, directing a short film about turning thirty, working with VICE magazine in London, and performing her original poetry on a global stage.
“I feel very proud and lucky to make a living from my creative ventures,” she says.
For ASB students dreaming of a creative career, her advice is refreshingly real:
“Try everything. True creativity is expansive - it should be illegal to box it in! If something doesn’t feel right, try something else. The magic lies in experimenting, doing, and getting it wrong. And never stop making things. Ever.”
And when asked what still brings her joy from her ASB days?
“The friendships. Dunia, Betty, and Maria - they’re still my absolute ride or dies. And the memories, like teaching cookie-making classes at SEED or bossing our year around while choreographing Waka Waka. Those were the days.”
Jade (center), with classmates on the senior rooftop.
We’re thrilled to share that Jade will be joining us later this year to speak with our theater students about her creative journey and the many paths that can lead to a life in the arts.
Jade, directing a film in London.
Explore more of Jade’s work at jadederoblesrossdale.com
See more Alumni stories on our Alumni Platform.