Luis Ribagorda and Eric Tamm depart

Haglund won't use the word "retire" because it is absurd, but Eric Tamm and Luis Ribagorda have had enough, too. Their last performances with ABT were this past weekend in Ratmansky's The Nutcracker at BAM.

Some may recall reading here last fall how Eric and Luis are collaborative filmmakers whose work has been accepted for presentation at international film festivals. And, of course, we know that Eric is handling the Executive Directorship of Craig Salstein's Intermezzo Dance Company.

But it is sad, so very sad to see these dancers depart when they are each so loved and respected by ABT's core audience who has relished the opportunities to see them perform and grow as classical artists and had great expectations for their continued rise. We are grateful to Alexei Ratmansky for recognizing their talents and frequently featuring them in his work. It's a shame that they never got the respect they deserved from the company's disreputable and entrenched artistic director.

Photo: Gene Schiavone (Eric & Xiomara Reyes in The Nutcracker)

 Photo: Marty Sohl