There, under the tutelage of Melissa Hayden, she danced principal roles in several of the school's productions, including The Nutcracker[4] and George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Western Symphony, Tarantella and Theme and Variations.
She spent 3 years as a Guest Principal with Royal New Zealand Ballet, during her husband's tenure as the company's director.
[10] After 16 years as principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, Murphy will take her final bow in the iconic role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Metropolitan Opera House.
[11] Murphy's repertory with the American Ballet Theatre includes: In 2000, she had a small part in the film Center Stage, which featured her ABT colleagues Ethan Stiefel, Julie Kent, and Sascha Radetsky in starring roles.
In 2005 she performed the dual role, Odette and Odile, in Kevin McKenzie's version of Swan Lake with ABT.