At four years old, some people were playing with wooden blocks and dolls, but Avery Stafford had already started dancing ballet at the Hathaway Academy of Ballet in Plano. By the time she was nine years old, she discovered that she had a passion for the art form, and by the age of twelve, she moved to the Ballet Academy of Texas and starred as Clara in the Nutcracker.
Her mother, Victoria, homeschooled her from the very beginning, so Avery was able to focus full-time on ballet and have a tailored schedule for her schooling. Now, she spends her days refining her skillset at the Dallas Conservatory, while she completes her 10th grade year in an online school program.
The most impressive thing about Avery's career is that although she was diagnosed with scoliosis, she continues to pursue her passion and only sheds her back brace to perform and train.
We can't wait for her to grace the stage in her upcoming performance of Swan Lake at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas. In our eyes, there is no better place for Avery than on the stages of the world!
To date, Avery's proudest accomplishment was being named a Young Arts winner for 2024. In this exclusive program, she will be able to earn support for the rest of her career through private grants and mentorship programs, which is something any budding artist across all disciplines would appreciate.
