The BEST episodes of Dance Moms season 5

#1 - Slumber Party!

Season 5 - Episode 33 - Aired 8/18/2015

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 more!

#2 - Abby vs. Kira ... AGAIN!

Season 5 - Episode 27 - Aired 7/14/2015

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 capitalize on ALDC's current misfortunes. The ALDC is traveling to Arizona and because Kira is still dissatisfied with Abby's treatment of Kalani, she brings in reinforcements from Kalani's past, which poses a direct threat to Abby.

#3 - Dance Moms Down Under, Part 1

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/19/2015

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 misses a crucial rehearsal when she goes to an interview in Abby's place.

#4 - Nia vs. Kalani: Winner Takes All

Season 5 - Episode 30 - Aired 8/4/2015

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 determine who will get the senior division solo next week. On top of prepping for this battle, Nia is really feeling the pressure as she is also shooting her second music video, hoping to cement her status as a pop star. Will she be able to balance both?

#5 - West Coast Strikes Back

Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 6/23/2015

The ALDC faces MDP, its biggest West Coast rival; Abby tests Mackenzie's confidence with a big opportunity; JoJo's sick grandmother visits Los Angeles and is desperate for JoJo to have a featured role.

#6 - Maddie vs. Mackenzie

Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 6/16/2015

For the first time in years, Maddie and Mackenzie are competing with solos against each other in the same age category. The pressure is even higher for Maddie--who, in addition to practicing her risky tap solo, has a new video with Sia premiering this week. Abby brings in celebrity guest choreographer Travis Payne to teach the girls a routine inspired by voguing, a style with which they are unfamiliar. They have to not only impress Abby, but also this high-profile choreographer who is a power player in the dance industry.

#7 - Mackenzie's Time to Shine

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/31/2015

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 team.

#8 - Maddie vs. Kalani

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/14/2015

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.

#9 - Where in the World is Abby Lee Miller?

Season 5 - Episode 26 - Aired 7/7/2015

After last week's blow out between Abby, Kira, and Kalani, all three are nowhere to be found. With only five weeks to go until Nationals, each girl has a solo to determine who will get a spot at the National Competition. Meanwhile, Kendall's single is dropping, but without her manager there to promote her, there is minimal fanfare. Nia meets with music producers to plan for her next single which includes a rap, a first for her. Therefore, Holly decides to enlist the help of a special guest to get Nia in the zone, which only serves to make Jill jealous.

#10 - Baby Dance Mama Drama

Season 5 - Episode 29 - Aired 7/28/2015

#11 - Hello Hollywood, Goodbye Abby

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/3/2015

The ALDC has finally arrived in Los Angeles and they are in for their toughest competition yet, when a top West Coast dance studio declares war. Abby sets up an audition with a casting agent for the girls but the pressure of LA is too great and Abby suffers her biggest breakdown yet, forcing the moms to question her abilities as a manager.

#12 - Wild Wild West Coast, Part 1

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/17/2015

It's the ALDC's last week in LA and the Moms' patience with Abby has grown thin due to the lack of opportunities for every girl except Abby's favorite. While Maddie is away, guest starring on TV's "Austin and Ally," Abby brings in two swing dancers who not only take away her time and attention but also threaten the girls' chance at their biggest audition to date, a music video for internet sensation and pop star MattyB. Abby's job as a manager is put to the test when one of her star pupils gets offered the lead.

#13 - Abby Got Served

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/13/2015

The Maddie vs. Kalani showdown arrives. Meanwhile, Abby's rival, Jeanette, is out for revenge, as lawsuits continue to mount for Abby. The moms remain loyal, but Abby manages to turn her own team against her.

#14 - Nia's Last Chance

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/17/2015

This week the ALDC heads to Philadelphia with a risky non-lyrical routine. Nia, Maddie and Kendall are feeling the pressure with solos, and Nia is singled out with an ultimatum from Abby. Frustrated with the lack of support from Melissa and Jill and tired of being victimized by Abby, Holly makes friends with two unlikely allies, which angers and alienates the original moms.

#15 - Chaos at Nationals

Season 5 - Episode 31 - Aired 8/11/2015

The season comes to a close with Nationals and the girls feel the pressure to remain undefeated; Abby opens her new studio the day before a competition, leaving the girls with little time to prepare; tension spirals out of control.

#16 - Hollywood, Round Two

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/7/2015

The ALDC is back in LA and it's time for the team to redeem itself by focusing on what made these girls stars in the first place: winning competitions! Holly and Jill don't see eye to eye when Abby decides to manage Kendall's new singing career. The pressure is on for Nia and Kendall as they both work to become pop stars while going head-to-head with solos this week. Not forgetting the constant fits of drama from Abby last time in Los Angeles, the girls give their all in the group dance in hopes of making their teacher proud.

#17 - Showdown in Pittsburgh, Part 2

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/5/2015

In their hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, the ALDC embarks on their final competition before their big official move to Los Angeles. But when only two girls show up to compete, chaos takes over and tempers flare. Cathy and Jeanette bring top notch routines to try and take the ALDC down, but without a full team, the threat from ALDC's rivals takes a backseat to the risk of disqualification.

#18 - Wild Wild West Coast, Part 2

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/24/2015

The ALDC's last week in Los Angeles continues with the girls juggling a competition and a music video shoot with kid rapper MattyB. But when Abby can't see eye to eye with his manager she tries to shut the shoot down, driving a wedge between the mothers who stay loyal to Abby and those who do not. To make matters worse, Abby announces she is cutting one dancer, causing the Moms to fight tooth and nail to secure their daughters’ spots on the team. Amidst all the chaos, it's the girls' last chance to pull off a win against the best of the best in LA, all without Abby's favorite dancer, Maddie.

#19 - The Great Divide

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/3/2015

It's the ALDC's first week back in Pittsburgh and the pressure is on to win after the girls' lackluster showing in Los Angeles. There is division amongst the moms based on who stayed to film the MattyB music video and who left. In true Abby fashion, the group dance is a personal attack against the mothers. Making matters worse, Abby discovers the team is in the teen division and one older member must sit out, sparking even more controversy amongst the team.

#20 - JoJo with a Bow Bow

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/20/2015

With Maddie heading to Los Angeles early for a new exciting opportunity with Sia, the ALDC team is down another member and the moms question Abby's dedication to this week's routines since her favorite dancer is gone. Abby needs a sub for Maddie, so she calls in new dancer JoJo, whose star quality threatens both the moms and the girls.

#21 - Abby's Trash, Cathy's Treasure

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/24/2015

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.

#22 - Nia Risks It All

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/10/2015

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 work with a huge star despite the consequences. Maddie prepares for another big Hollywood job, and all the girls soon are on edge when Abby announces an open call audition in Los Angeles. Holly and Nia grow especially fearful of their futures with the ALDC.

#23 - City of Angels

Season 5 - Episode 32 - Aired 8/18/2015

Abby and the mothers discuss what went wrong at Nationals and some of the most shocking moments in Los Angeles; the mothers are divided on hot button issues; Abby drops a bombshell

#24 - Solo Battle: Round 1

Season 5 - Episode 28 - Aired 7/21/2015

Jeanette takes over with an epic routine; Abby tests the girls with a challenging prop; Kendall and JoJo go head-to-head in a showdown.

#25 - Seeing Stars

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/12/2015

Abby Lee Miller and the Dance Moms get together to talk about the highs and lows of this season and try to hash out any remaining bad feelings. Holly and Abby go head to head once again; Abby's nemeses, Cathy and Jeanette, stir things up; and Maddie talks about her newfound fame and upcoming events. On the verge of leaving for Australia and then Los Angeles for three months, the team reflects on all that they've learned, shared and lost during their time at the ALDC, and Abby reveals her plans for world domination.