Dena Kaplan

Dena Kaplan is a versatile South African-born Australian performer, celebrated for her multifaceted talents as an actress, singer, model, and dancer. She gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Abigail Armstrong in the acclaimed series Dance Academy.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Kaplan hails from a creative family deeply rooted in the performing arts; her mother and grandmother were both ballet dancers, while her father was a musician and her grandfather an actor. After relocating to Australia in 1996 at the tender age of seven, Dena was inspired to pursue ballet after watching her older sister, Gemma-Ashley Kaplan.

Kaplan honed her craft at Mount Scopus Memorial College and trained at prestigious institutions, including the Australian Ballet School and the Ailey School in New York City. Her stage debut came in The Production Company's Carousel, where she played Louise, followed by a role in Disney's The Lion King as a dancer and singer.

Her television career began in 2005 with a role in the spy series Scooter: Secret Agent. She later appeared in the police drama City Homicide and had notable roles in Flight of the Conchords and the film In Her Skin. Kaplan's talents were further showcased in Camp, where she played Sarah Brennen.

Beyond her artistic endeavors, Dena Kaplan is an ambassador for the Soi Dog Foundation and the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation, alongside her sisters. Currently residing in Sydney, she announced her pregnancy in December 2022 and welcomed her daughter on June 23, 2023.