Upbeat music starts as the crowd slowly quiets down, awaiting the next performance. San Mateo’s beloved Dance Team scatters into formation on stage, dressed in matching colors. While watching each member of the Dance Team, eyes can’t help but watch Keiko Laird, the energetic and charismatic dancer with an incredible stage presence, smiling confidently in the center of the stage.
During her dance routines, Keiko grabs the attention of her audience by paying close attention to what she’s wearing and what routines Dance Team creates. Keiko has said that what she wears “definitely impacts the way I dance. When I’m wearing loose, baggier clothes, I just feel more confident.”
The simple elegance combines with the confidence with which she moves makes the difficult routine seem effortless.
Seeing Keiko around school, she’s always the person who would offer you a smile, regardless of whether she knows you or not. Keiko has a way of making people smile, on or off the stage. Her kindness has reflected in her favorite class, weight lifting, and Mr. Labbie, the teacher of weight lifting class, said that “Keiko privately brought to my attention that some students get high anxiety because of their weight and it might be a better idea to not require [students to measure their body mass indexes (weight: height)].” This example of Keiko’s mindfulness makes her stand out in a crowd of other students.
Not only are Keiko’s achievements shown through the hundreds of appreciative viewers of Dance Team performances at football games, rallies, and special performances, but they’re also demonstrated through the leaderboard in SMHS’s weight room. Keiko’s dedication and determination have won her several places on the board, including first place for the longest plank for any student. Mr. Labbie notes that “Keiko holds two all-time school records for push-ups in 1 minute (70 push-ups) and plank time (1 hour and 32-minute plank). The ability to hold a plank position for 1 hour and 30 minutes is not just an impressive physical accomplishment but shows how mentally strong she can be as well.” During her records, Keiko recalls that she just “wanted to prove to myself that I can be better… In weight lifting and conditioning class, there’s infinite growth, no matter what, you can always be better.”
Keiko breaks society’s norms, as she said that “most people are told not to weight lift and dance at the same time, but I’ve learned to use [weight lifting] to help me stay concentrated and fit for dancing, and it also makes me feel a lot more confident.” What Keiko brings to San Mateo, especially her dance team, is irreplaceable, and as she moves on to the next chapter in life, there is no doubt that Keiko will bring her energy with her. On or off stage, Keiko never fails to put people in awe.