I started dancing back when I was in LA, but I didn't get into the vintage dance scene until I got to the Bay Area. I can't remember how I happened upon Gaskells. It must have been a flyer seen at a contra dance (I discovered contra dancing in LA. I continued doing it in SF but eventually dropped it because I found the community here a bit frostier than that in LA, oddly enough.) Gaskells led to PEERS which led to all sorts of other types of social and couples dancing. I haven't been out dancing in a couple years now. At first it was because I was so ashamed of regaining weight I had lost. Now it's also because my health has been so bad that I wouldn't be able to dance more than a couple dances per night. And $20 admission to dance only 2 or 3 dances is a bit rich for my blood. However, I'll want to try easing myself back into dancing and would like to tap into that community in LA.

So here's a list of SF Bay Area dance/costume coolnesses and very rough equivalents in LA:

PEERS, Gaskells = LAHA

Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild =  Costumers Guild West

Stonemountain & Daughter, Piedmont Fabric, Silk Road Fabric = The Garment District

Lacis = Farthingale's LA

Bay Area Country Dance Society = California Dance Cooperative

The California Dance Cooperative used to hold Cajun dances. In fact, their cajun dances are what introduced me to contra. It looks like they don't have them anymore. So if anyone knows of Cajun/Zydeco dances in LA, please let me know.

While I'm glad there are more equivalents than I thought there would be, most of these resources are within a couple miles of my house. That will NOT be the case in LA. And as I sold my car last year, I expect the greatest shock of all will be how hard it is to get around. Even though I'll likely be able to borrow a car when I need one, I don't want to have to. I like things being close by.