The time has come again when the Emerald Ball shines its glitzy glamour upon Southern California. Said to be one of the oldest ballroom competitions in U.S. history, this illustrious event began in San Francisco under Sheila and Ken Sloan. After promoting it for about 25 years prior, Wayne and Donna Eng purchased the Emerald Ball Championships, and by 1994 became the sole organizers – ultimately catapulting the event into massive popularity and notoriety.


Held at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton Hotel from April 27-May 1, this event boasts an impressive roster of some of the top professionals in the industry. This elite panel of experts are not only competitors, but also serve as liaisons, judges and everything in between.

After nearly 3 decades the Emerald Ball has grown to become one of the largest competitions in America, and with over 15,000 competition entries each year, it has become one of the largest in the world. Some new additions to this years event are a
dded Pro/Am Rising Star Rhythm & Smooth Multi-Dance competitions, more age levels in Pro/Am scholarships and an expanded schedule to allow dancers more time on the dance floor. This is widely considered a must do event for serious pro-am, amateur or professional competitors.

Another big part of the Emerald Ball is the Los Angeles Dance Camp. Held in the same hotel, this comprehensive camp consists of a full week of intensive dance instruction guaranteed to take any participants skill set to another level. The roster is jam packed with some of the most acclaimed pros, including household names like Karina Smirnoff and Jonathan Roberts from Dancing With The Stars, and Melanie LaPatin from So You Think You Can Dance. With workshops taught by some of the most experienced professionals in the industry, many of whom are also dance-sport champions, and as such know what it takes to rise to the top.

Just a stones throw away from Los Angeles International Airport, the event venue isn’t too far away from other hot-spots and touristic sites that visitors enjoy. With a business casual dress code by day and a formal one by night, this event always puts the best in style and elegance on display. They say that you have to learn from the best to be the best, so there is no better place to do that than at the Emerald Ball. Whether you’re a pro, amateur or spectator, you will be thoroughly entertained and inspired at this legendary event that has become nothing short of an institution in the ballroom dance world.