Dena Kaplan
Dena Amy Kaplan (born 20 January 1989) is a South African-born Australian actress, singer, dancer, and DJ. She is best known for her role as Abigail Armstrong in Dance Academy.
Also recorded as Dena Amy Kaplan
Dena Kaplan

Eva Rinaldi · aacta awards · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Dena Kaplan
- Born
- 20 January 1989
- Birthplace
- Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- Occupation
- * Actress
- Nationality
- Australia · South Africa
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Dena Amy Kaplan (born 20 January 1989) is a South African-born Australian actress, singer, dancer, and DJ. She is best known for her role as Abigail Armstrong in Dance Academy.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q518185 · wikipedia · Dena Kaplan
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Dena Kaplan • Born — 20 January 1989 • Birthplace — Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa • Occupation — * Actress • dancer • model • DJ • Years Active — 1996–present • Relatives — Gemma-Ashley Kaplan (sister) Ariel Kaplan (sister) • Children — 1 • Website — denaamy.com
Life and career
Life and career
Kaplan was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her mother and grandmother were both ballet dancers. Kaplan's father was a musician and her grandfather was an actor. Dena comes from a Jewish family. She has an older sister Gemma-Ashley Kaplan and a younger sister Ariel Kaplan, who played Lisa Atwood #2 on The Saddle Club. Kaplan moved to Melbourne in Australia in 1996, at age seven. After watching Gemma taking ballet lessons Dena followed in her footsteps. Kaplan attended Mount Scopus Memorial College and had dance training at numerous schools, including Australian Ballet School, Jane Moore Academy of Ballet and City Dance Centre. She first appeared onstage alongside David Campbell in The Production Company's Carousel, playing Louise, a non-singing solo ballet part in the second act of the show. Her second major appearance was as a dancer/singer in Disney's musical production of The Lion King. She moved to New York City to study at the Ailey School and Broadway Dance Center. Her first television role was in 2005 on the Network Ten spy series Scooter: Secret Agent as one of the party girls. In 2007, she appeared as Deborah Statesman in an episode of Australian police drama City Homicide. In 2009, she played Keli in an episode of Flight Of The Conchords and starred in the film In Her Skin alongside Rebecca Gibney. She was then cast in the series "Dance Academy" and in the same year was cast as Stephanie Wolfe in City Homicide. In 2011, Kaplan starred as the love interest in Chris Sebastian's music video for "Flow". During 2013 she was cast in the role of Sarah Brennen in Camp. A TV series that was set to star Gemma, Dena, and Ariel was workshopped. Dena Kaplan is an ambassador for Soi Dog Foundation and together with her sisters, she is an ambassador for the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation. Kaplan lives in Sydney, Australia. In December 2022, Kaplan announced her pregnancy via her Instagram page. She gave birth to her daughter on June 23, 2023.
Filmography
Filmography
• Illustration — Kaplan with Jared Daperis, 2013 Film and television roles • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2005 — Scooter: Secret Agent — Party Girl — Episode: "Operation: Double Oh" • 2007 — City Homicide — Deborah Statesman — Episode: "The Ripe Fruits in the Garden" • 2009 — In Her Skin — Pregnant girl with pram • 2009 — Flight of the Conchords — Keli — Episode: "Unnatural Love" • 2010 — City Homicide — Stephanie Wolfe — Episode: "Atonement" • 2010–13 — Dance Academy — Abigail Armstrong — Main role • 2012 — Tricky Business — Minnesota Smith — Recurring role • 2012 — Mrs Biggs — Trish — Episode: "1.5" • 2013 — Camp — Sarah Brennen — Main role • 2014 — The — Amelia Yorke — Episode: "Crossing the Line" • 2015 — Della Mortika — Beatrix Della Morte — Short film; in post-production • 2016 — Honey 3: Dare to Dance — Nadine — Direct to video • 2017 — Dance Academy: The Movie — Abigail Armstrong — Theatrical film • 2021 — Long Story Short — Becka — Feature film
Identity
Identity
Dena Kaplan is recorded with the occupation film actor. Recorded as a citizen of South Africa.

Dena Kaplan and Ryan Corr at the 2012 AACTA Awards Sydney, Australia
Eva Rinaldi · aacta awards

The 1st AACTA Awards were presented at the Sydney Opera House on 31 January 2012. The ceremony was preceded by a luncheon at the Westin Hotel in Sydney on 15 January 2012.
Eva Rinaldi · AACTA AWARDS
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Dena Kaplan was born at Johannesburg.
Birthplace
Johannesburg.
Birth place
Discography
Dena Amy - Wait For You 2016 Dena Amy ft. London Topaz - Your Eyes 2017 Dena Amy ft. Kyle Waston - Diamonds Elle Skies' 2017 Dena Amy - Jol 2018
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q518185: Dena Kaplan
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Dena Kaplan”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Neighbours' Ariel Kaplan on Imogen future: 'She has another freak-out'
- 2.Interview with new Neighbours star Ariel Kaplan
- 3.sourcedance.com. Dena Kaplan.
- 4.Dena Kaplan. AACTA Festival.
- 5.Disney. Disney Ensemble Cast: Dena Caplan.
- 6.australiantelevision.net. Scooter: Secret Agent: episode guide.
- 7.australiantelevision.net. City Homicide: episode guide.
- 8.Film.com. Dena Kaplan Flight Of The Conchords.
- 9.Australian Broadcasting Corporation via Throng. Dance Academy on ABC3. 2010.
- 10.Goldberg, Lesley. 'Brothers & Sisters' Alum Rachel Griffiths to Star in NBC Summer Series 'Camp'. The Hollywood Reporter. 25 February 2013.
- 11.Interview: Dena Kaplan
- 12.Dena Kaplan from NBC's 'Camp' Talks to Us About Her Healthy Living Philosophy, Body Image, & Shares A Favorite Recipe
- 13.Our Ambassadors.
- 14.Dance Academy's Jordan Rodrigues & Dena Kaplan.
- 15.I wish I could pause time, it's going too fast since you arrived Maya girl. There is no better feeling in the world that I have ever felt than snuggling and feeding you and looking into your eyes. I never in my wildest dreams knew motherhood could be this magical. It was worth it, all the pain, all the tears, all the darkness, all of it- for you Maya, my gift for god. 🤍 thank you for the privilege you have given me to be your mother. I'm still pinching myself. instagram.com. June 23, 2023.
- 16.http://www.lazygirls.info/Dena_Kaplan?tab=Videos&vloc=4
References
Citations
References
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authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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