Dance Moms: Season 5
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Dance Moms Season 4.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
99 Problems but a Mom Ain't One
Jan 6, 2015
The dance competition season is off to a rocky start when a key team member disappears.
Abby Got Served
Jan 13, 2015
Maddie and Kalani prepare for a showdown; Abby's rival seeks revenge; Abby's team members begin to turn against her.
JoJo With a Bow Bow
Jan 20, 2015
Maddie heads to Los Angeles for an exciting new opportunity; the mothers question Abby's dedication to this week's routines since her favorite dancer is gone; Abby calls in JoJo as
Bye Bye Pittsburgh
Jan 27, 2015
JoJo and Jess return to fight for a spot on the ALDC; the team prepares for their Hollywood adventure; Holly and Jill are concerned that Nia and Kendall will be forgotten by Abby.
Hello Hollywood, Goodbye Abby
Feb 3, 2015
The ALDC arrives in Los Angeles; a top west coast dance studio declares war on the ALDC; Abby sets up an audition with a casting agent for the girls; Abby suffers a breakdown, caus
Nia Risks It All
Feb 10, 2015
After a chaotic first week in Los Angeles, things do not settle down when Abby and Holly have their biggest and most shocking fight ever, causing Holly to go behind Abby's back to
Wild Wild West Coast, Part 1
Feb 17, 2015
The mothers' patience with Abby grows thin during the ALDC's last week in Los Angeles; Abby brings in two swing dancers that threaten the other girls' chances at an audition; Abby'
Wild Wild West Coast, Part 2
Feb 24, 2015
While in Los Angeles, the girls juggle a competition and a music video shoot; Abby attempts to shut down the music video shoot; the mothers fight to keep their daughters on the tea
The Great Divide
Mar 3, 2015
The ALDC returns to Pittsburgh; the mothers are divided based on who stayed to film the music video and those who left; the group dance becomes a personal attack against the mother
The New Maddie?
Mar 10, 2015
The ALDC girls move forward after a rocky journey to Los Angeles; Cathy returns with a surprise choreographer; Abby invites Ashlee and her daughter Brynn to come dance at the ALDC
Nia's Last Chance
Mar 17, 2015
The ALDC heads to Philadelphia with a risky non-lyrical routine; Abby gives Nia an ultimatum; frustrated with the lack of support from Melissa and Jill, Holly makes friends with tw
Abby's Trash, Cathy's Treasure
Mar 24, 2015
The media goes crazy for Maddie's second music video with Sia; Cathy assembles a team of dancers who have all worked with Abby and are ready to seek vengeance on the dance floor.
Mackenzie's Time to Shine
Mar 31, 2015
While Maddie is away, Mackenzie has the opportunity to prove herself; Abby decides to push the envelope with a sassy routine in a competition against Cathy's premium Candy Apples t
Hollywood, Round Two
Apr 7, 2015
The ALDC returns to Los Angeles to compete; Abby decides to manage Kendall's new singing career; Nia and Kendall work to become pop stars while going head to head with solos; the g
Maddie vs. Kalani
Apr 14, 2015
Determined to have a victory, the girls face Murrieta Dance Project; Abby gives solos to her strongest dancers; Nia is left out of a show-biz opportunity.
Video Killed the ADLC Star
Apr 21, 2015
JoJo and Kendall have challenging solos for the last competition in Los Angeles; Nia and Kendall have music video shoots; Holly and Jill get competitive.
Showdown in Pittsburgh, Part 1
Apr 28, 2015
The team returns to Pittsburgh to tie up loose ends before they move to Los Angeles; Abby schedules the team to attend a competition and a convention; Holly organizes a premiere pa
Showdown in Pittsburgh, Part 2
May 5, 2015
The ALDC embarks on their final competition before their move to Los Angeles; chaos ensues when only two girls show up at the competition; Cathy and Jeanette try to take down the A
Seeing Stars
May 12, 2015
Abby and the mothers meet to discuss the highs and lows of the season; Holly and Abby go head to head; Cathy and Jeanette stir things up; Maddie discusses her newfound fame; the te
Dance Moms Down Under, Part 1
May 19, 2015
The ALDC heads to Australia to perform at the ASTRA Awards; Abby loses her passport and leaves the team stranded in Sydney without her; Jess confronts the other mothers; Maddie mis
Dance Moms Down Under, Part 2
May 26, 2015
The team is divided into two factions when Abby excludes Nia and JoJo from the rest of the planned events in Australia; Kendall, Kalani, Maddie and Mackenzie must learn a new routi
Live From LA, It's Kendall K
Jun 9, 2015
The team makes its permanent move to Los Angeles; Kendall is pushed to the limit as her pop star debut approaches along with having a solo; Abby makes a dramatic decision.
Maddie vs. Mackenzie
Jun 16, 2015
Maddie and Mackenzie compete with solos against each other in the same age category; Abby brings in a guest choreographer to teach the girls a routine inspired by voguing.
West Coast Strikes Back
Jun 23, 2015
The ALDC's biggest west coast rival, MDP, is back and Abby wants to put her best foot forward at competition. After Mackenzie's huge win against her big sis Maddie, Abby tests her
Abby vs. Kira
Jul 30, 2015
The moms push Abby for more dance classes after losing two competitions in a row. When Abby refuses to take responsibility for the girls' lack of training, Kira takes matters into
Where in the World Is Abby Lee Miller?
Jul 7, 2015
Where in the World Is Abby Lee Miller?
Abby vs. Kira ... AGAIN!
Jul 14, 2015
With only four weeks until Nationals, the ALDC is desperate for a group routine win. To make matters worse, the Candy Apples are back with a surprise guest and they're ready to cap
Solo Battle: Round 1
Jul 21, 2015
Jeanette's officially taking over the Candy Apples and she's bringing an epic routine featuring the Gay Man's Chorus of LA to competition. Meanwhile, Abby tests the girls with a ch
Baby Dance Mama Drama
Jul 28, 2015
The ALDC is finally in their new LA studio and Abby announces that their official grand opening party will coincide with Nationals in two weeks! After Kendall beat JoJo last week,
Nia vs. Kalani: Winner Takes All
Aug 4, 2015
With only one week left until Nationals, the ALDC is facing the super talented MDP who are bringing their best routine yet. Abby gives Kalani and Nia head-to-head solos to determin
Chaos at Nationals
Aug 11, 2015
The girls get ready to take part at Nationals and feel the pressure to remain undefeated.
City of Angels
Aug 18, 2015
Coming off of a major loss at nationals, it's time for Abby Lee Miller and the dance moms to hash out what went wrong.
Slumber Party!
Aug 18, 2015
In this Slumber Party special, Maddie takes us behind the scenes as she and the girls from Dance Moms dish on celebrity crushes, makeup tips, who takes the longest to get ready and