Bio
Dena Kaplan is a South African-born Australian actress, singer and dancer best known for her starring role as Abigail Armstrong in the teen drama television series Dance Academy, from 2010-2013.
She also had a starring role as Sarah Brennen, a senior camp counselor, in the comedy-drama television series Camp, in 2013.
Kaplan comes from a long line of performers and is one of three sisters all working professionally in the entertainment industry.
At 16 years old, she joined the adult ensemble of The Lion King for its Melbourne, Sydney and Shanghai seasons, working alongside her younger sister Ariel. The Lion King is one of several theatrical productions for which Kaplan has been cast.
Kaplan studied at the Jane Moore Academy of Ballet and was an associate of the Australian Ballet School. In 2006, she trained in New York at the world renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Her television work includes Scooter: Secret Agent, EliteXC and City Homicide, and she was also a lead guest star in the hugely successful Flight of the Conchords for HBO.
In 2009 Kaplan starred in the award-winning teen series Dance Academy for the Australian network ABC. She went on to reprise the role for two further seasons to much acclaim and popularity.
Kaplan's film debut was opposite Guy Pearce and Miranda Otto in Simone North's In Her Skin. She has worked with esteemed directors Michel Gondry and Nicholas Stoller, and celebrated choreographers Dana Jolly and Andrew Hallsworth.
In 2012 Kaplan enjoyed a recurring role in Tricky Business for Nine Network and landed a guest role in the miniseries Mrs. Biggs for ITV U.K.