Meet Our Founder: Tien Stafidas

Tien Stafidas founded Upstage World in 2024 in Sydney, Australia, inspired by years spent supporting her daughter through the rhythm of dance life - rehearsals, competitions, studio hours, and everything in between. As a parent immersed in the dance community, she noticed something missing. Dancers had studio wear, but very little they could comfortably wear from the studio to the street. With a 10-year background in creative interior design and a natural eye for style, Tien set out to create a brand that blended function, comfort, and fashion for dancers. Her vision was to design clothing that supports the real lives of dancers - pieces that feel just as natural in the studio as they do after class, travelling to competitions, or hanging out with friends. From that idea, ‘dance fashion’ was born.