Jaded treasure

article and photos by Derek Caballero

I first met Jade at my studio in Los Angeles.   She peeked her head through the door.   Her   purple hair worn upward in defiance of gravity.   I was struck by her cosmic eyes mixed with a fairy tale quality, almost child-like; magical.    In our interview she explained that the bit of anarchist nature I detected in her personality came from feeling different all her life, and not being able to conform to the norm.   Her Taiwanese Asian culture was a complete contradiction.   Her parents, although they have strong traditional values were willing to embrace her creativity; allowing Jade to become the true free spirit.  

As far as Jade can remember, she always excelled in the arts, but it was in a single dorm room in college where she spent moments of precious time cocooned with the rapture of music.   In this tranquility Jade cultivated and explored dance.   Through freedom of self expression she created her own texture of movement which I simply can only call, "The Jade Dance".