Eugene and Maria Retire

[syncopationator]

this is very sad news. They were my favorite couple.

[sambanada]

I wish them both luck.

[dcharmd1]

that is sad news, i was just watching youtube videos of them today and awed by their performances, the footwork is so precise

[SDsalsaguy]

I'll miss watching them on the comp floor. Fantastic dancers, and even better people.

[Daphna]

Amazing dancers, great competitors who know the true meaning of sportsmanship, and wonderful human beings. They will be sorely missed on the competitive scene.

[Casayoto]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

[samina]

wha...? aw man... i am quite surprised. and dismayed. what a wonderful partnership.

[dlgodud]

Very sad news indeed. Wish them the best in the future and hopefully see them doing shows if possible.

[TinyDancer109]

:cry:

[Larinda McRaven]

I am happy for them! The have worked long and hard. And they now get to start a new chapter. Good For Them!

[Addicted2Rhinestones]

Just saw this...enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2Fparadig mdvd%23p%2Fu%2F0%2FH7ke26yEGWU&v=H7ke26yEGWU

[reb]

Great performers, great talent, good people, fun to watch.

Larinda's right - their lives move forward - the memories of seeing them on the floor are ours . . .

[3wishes]

They were great!!! I wish them well. Glad I have You Tube - Love Watching them.

[Standarddancer]

They are so inspiring to watch!!! Definitely a loss for team USA!!! This year we won by only .5 points, hope we'll doing fine next year w/o them too!!! Good luck for both of them. Guess they'll be more focused on coaching?

[Nvm]

I am shocked and saddened by this news. I will miss seeing them boogy on the dancefloor.

[ChaChaMama]

Thank you, Eugene and Maria, for so many wonderful years.

You are such inspirations to everyone in USA Dance, and after eleven years as the amateur champions, it has been such a joy watching you take the professional world by storm!

Your professional show at Yankee Classic in 2008 was one of the best professional shows I have ever seen. Each number brought out a different emotion in the audience, from the heartbreaking rumba to the playful jive. I look forward to seeing you again.

The only thing that rivals the joy I get from watching you dance is watching you interact with the children and young adults that you coach. Your obvious dedication and commitment to your student warms my heart. You aren't just amazing dancers. You are amazing people.

Thank you for being one of America's longest lasting professional couples. Thanks for bringing your own unique flavor to latin dance. Thanks for being you. Best wishes a million times over on the next stage of your careers!

***

P.S. To all the other E+M fans: Eugene and Maria are listed as a showcase couple at Millennium Dancesport (late June) and at the NJ Open (October). :)

[Natasha.]

They were very special to me... I always dreamed someday they'll perform in Tokio, Japan.

I will miss you guys!

[Joe]

Thank you for being one of America's longest lasting professional couples.
Not to be a downer (because they are an undoubtedly great couple), but I wouldn't really call them a long-lasting professional couple. I mean, they danced their first pro comp in what, 2008? That's not to say they didn't have a long-lasting and illustrious amateur career, of course.

[Natasha.]

Eugene and Maria chacha 2001 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNew_xB8xM4)
Nice Eugene and Maria's chacha