Parma Heights rec department planning fall programming -- including some boot scootin’ fun

Community NewsLine dancing in Parma Heights. (Courtesy of Parma Heights)Courtesy of Parma HeightsBy John Benson, special to cleveland.comPARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Recreation Director Michael Sedlak said his department has plenty of offerings coming up for community members. “Program-wise, we’re transitioning from outdoor yoga to indoor yoga starting Oct. 10,” he said. “Our outdoor yoga has two more sessions outdoors at Radlick Park. “Also, coming in September are two walks with Mayor Gallo -- Sept. 2 at Nathan Hale Park and Sept. 22 on the Cleveland Metroparks Connector Trails behind The Cassidy Theatre.” Next up is the return of line dancing with popular instructor Jamie Wylie.The boot scootin’ fun takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 29) at the Cassidy Theatre. Line dancing is coming to the Cassidy Theatre in Parma Heights. (John Benson/cleveland.com)John Benson/cleveland.com“Jamie is fantastic with line dancing,” he said. “His classes are very engaging and he has tremendous patience with the participants.“Surprisingly, at least half of the participants are non-residents, which means he has a following that will travel to be in his class.” The upcoming line dancing affair -- $6 residents, $7 non-residents -- is for intermediate dancers.“This is the fourth year I’ve been doing line dancing classes in Parma Heights,” said Wylie, who lives in the West Park area of Cleveland. “There are so many good things about it. “I work in IT, so I’m at a computer the whole day. It’s really nice to get away from the computer, get up, get active and get out of the house. “From a mental health and a physical health standpoint, there have been many studies over the decades about how good line dancing is for both the body and the mind. It’s a very active thing.”As an instructor for 20 years, Wylie cleared up a few preconceived notions related to line dancing. “I understand it could be intimidating, but like anything in life, you really don’t know how it is until you give it a try,” he said. “The first class or two you’re probably going to be a little intimidated. “And we play a lot of good music. A lot of people have a perception that line dancing is all country. “That’s really a small part of line dancing now. We line dance to jazz music, to salsa and to country, obviously.” Read more news from the Parma Sun Post here.