You’d be hard pressed to find an Aussie millennial who hadn’t tuned into Dance Academy during its three-season run on the ABC.
Set atop the picturesque backdrop of Sydney harbour on the Walsh Bay piers, the show followed aspiring teenage ballet dancer Tara Webster as she is accepted into the elite (and fictional) National Dance Academy, and the highs and lows of her time there.
With an all-star cast, movie, and even a Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children’s Program to its name, it’s no wonder that the series is still popular more than a decade after its last episode aired in 2013.
Spot any familiar faces?
(IMAGE: ABC)Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle in a rare interview, actress Xenia Goodwin said that to this day the cast were still as close as ever.
”Every single one of the people that I worked with, we’re still a family. All of us.”
Scroll on as we catch up with the now adult cast of the show many Australians are STILL binge watching.
Xenia Goodwin as Tara Webster
Xenia hasn’t aged a day!
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)Despite being the protagonist of the series, Xenia has stepped away from the acting industry altogether it seems!
When the show ended, she starred in short film The Bard (2017) and in a guest role in TV miniseries Winter (2015) before returning to the character of Tara once more in Dance Academy: The Movie (2017).
In July 2019, the actress was in a near fatal car accident whilst traveling Greece that almost left her a quadriplegic. Thankfully, she recovered.
‘”As far as injuries go, this has been pretty bad. I am supposed to be a quadriplegic, and I thank my lucky angels every day that I am now,” Xenia wrote on her Instagram about the accident in December 2021.
”I miss ballet, I miss acting, I miss who I used to be. But I am proud of who I am now,” she continued.
As of 2023, Xenia seems to be slowly dipping her toes back into the world of entertainment but is working for a developer and builder ”doing masterplan communities and stuff” according to an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle.
Jordan Rodriguez as Christian Reed
Jordan has made his way to Hollywood.
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)This complex character had a rough start to his fictional life, but soon became a fan favourite in the series as viewers watching from home rooted for his and Tara’s blossoming romance.
In the years since filming wrapped, Jordan has made his way to Hollywood, starring in The Fosters (2014-2018) as Mat Tan, opposite Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird (2017) and most recently in Disney+ original series National Treasure: Edge of History (2022-2023) as Ethan Chao.
Alicia Banit as Kat Karamakov
This bombshell is now a happy mum of one!
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)This blonde babe was the ‘it girl’ of Dance Academy, already known for time on Chris Lilley comedy Summer Heights High (2007).
After her time as Kat wrapped, the actress starred in several Aussie productions including Upper Middle Bogan (2016), Playing for Keeps (2018), Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries (2019) and most recently in ABC series Crazy Fun Park (2023).
Alicia is currently married to her long-time love Zac Burns with whom she shares baby girl Isla with, born the 10th of October 2022.
Tim Pocok as Ethan Karamakov
Tim was a hearthrob then, and is a heartthrob now!
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)Be still our beating teenage hearts!
The original ‘it boy’ of a 2010’s Australia, Tim ticked every box when it came to be a hot, male lead as the older (and therefore untouchable) older brother of a friend (Kat), who was not just a brilliant ballet dancer (with the broodiness to match) but misunderstood.
Ahhhh!
Following his time on Dance Academy, Tim went to star in several independent films and produces his own original music which he shares on his social media, alongside throwback snaps from his time on the Dance Academy set.
Dena Kaplan as Abigail Armstrong
This former actress is better known as a DJ these days!
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)This en pointe actress nailed the role of fiery Abigail during Dance Academy’s three year run on the ABC but has taken a step back from acting in recent years with a handful of appearances in Aussie dramas and of course to reprise her role as Abigail in Dance Academy: The Movie (2017).
Dena has however been busy producing music, and performing across the world as a DJ and has also founded Twerk after Werk, a ”safe space to get hot and sweaty through an empowering hip hop dance workout,” with locations in Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Melbourne.
Alongside partner Alex, Dena is expecting her first child and is due to give birth mid-2023.
Thom Green as Sammy Lieberman
We are still emotionally recovering from Sammy’s death on Dance Academy.
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)There’s no television death that hits quite as hard as that of Sammy Lieberman who was killed off at the end of season two in a car accident.
Despite being a fictional character, Sammy’s death devastated the nation, as well as his fictional friends.
Following his departure from the show, Thom went on to star in several Aussie dramas, most recently in Mr Inbetween (2021) and more recently in coming-of-age film Of an Age.
Brb, we are going to go cry some more.
Isabel Durant as Grace Whitney
Isabel looks very different with red hair, we almost didn’t recognise her!
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)Directly after her time as Grace on Dance Academy wrapped, Isabel went on to star in another huge Aussie children’s show – Mako Mermaids (2015 – 2016) before heading across to the USA to star in long running soap drama Days of Our Lives as Claire Brady (2020 – present).
Thomas Lacey as Ben Tickle
Nowadays Thomas is running his very own dance studio with help from his wife.
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)Minus a re appearance on screen for Dance Academy: The Movie (2017), Thomas has redirected his focus to a stage career, securing the lead role of Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom the Musical in 2013.
In the years since he has also toured the country in a number of other productions such as Grease the Arena Experience in 2018.
He currently co-owns May Downs School of Dance alongside his wife Chloe Hayden.
Keiynan Lonsdale as Ollie Llyod
Keiynan has arguably had the biggest acting success from the cast.
(IMAGE: ABC/Instagram)Despite only appearing in half the number of episodes that his co-stars did, troubled Ollie was a popular character.
Once his time in the ballet studio wrapped, Keiynan starred in as Uriah in Insurgent (2015) and its sequel Allegiant (2016), as well as critically acclaimed film Love, Simon (2018) and more notably as Wally West/Kid Flash in The Flash (2015-2023).
Keiynan also produces his own music, including a studio album – Rainbow Boy – released in 2020.
In 2022, the actor described himself as ”gay” in an interview with BuzzFeed.
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