She joined the New York City Ballet in 2000 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2007.
In 1998, she was admitted to the School of American Ballet in New York City as a full-time student.
[2][3] Stafford became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in November 1999.
In her final performance, she danced Ratmansky's Russian Seasons, in a role she originated.
She started to study law afterwards, and interned at The Legal Aid Society.