Rachel Molenda is known among her friends for following her inspiration into new and exciting ventures. So when the universe suggested she become a DJ and start a dance party series, the Toronto mindset coach followed her own advice and jumped right in.
Today, Rachel’s REUNION dance parties are giving women in Toronto and across Canada a space to dance it out, reconnect with their bodies and truly express themselves.
Narcity talked to Rachel about the astronomical speed at which her DJing dreams came true, how Squarespace’s website and e-commerce tools kept up with the pace of her ambition, and where she sees REUNION going in the future.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Finding freedom on the dance floor
Just two years ago, Rachel was covered in sparkles and experiencing her first raves and dance parties. Each show left her buzzing with inspiration, fueling her creativity and even sparking new business ideas.
“When we have joy running through our body and are in a relaxed state, we are so much more available for ideas and aren’t burdened by our self-doubt and limiting beliefs. Anything and everything seems possible from a place of play and joy,” Rachel told Narcity.
The thrill of these experiences quickly outweighed any lingering guilt or shame she felt for not settling down as a woman in her 30s. Instead, they paved the way for a fresh chapter of personal growth.
“I knew I wanted to create something similar, and specifically for women, to experience the same.”
Rachel Molenda DJs surrounded by candles and lights. @rachelmmolenda | Instagram
At the time, Rachel, already a known mindset coach with a growing social media following, was sharing fun Instagram stories of herself dancing and her followers regularly encouraged her to host dance events. Then came what Rachel calls her “happiest accident” — a friend offered her a deal on some DJ gear, and the pieces fell into place.
“On Christmas Day, December 25th 2023, I made a pact with myself,” she said. “I was going to host a dance party 30 days from that point. And – I was going to DJ it.”
Introducing DJ Rachel Molenda
On January 25, 2024, inspired by music, dance and the support of her community, Rachel launched the first of many alcohol-free REUNION events — a sacred dance experience for women to reconnect with their true selves.
Rachel Molenda dances with a DJ. @rachelmmolenda | Instagram
Since the first REUNION party in Toronto last February, the event has quickly grown into a monthly, often sold-out gathering, expanding to new cities, including Niagara, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
What started as a dancefloor-inspired dream to empower women through the beauty of rave culture has taken off, and Rachel relied on Squarespace as the perfect place to help organize her thriving events.
Swift dreams call for tools that have your back
Having used Squarespace since 2019 for her other ventures — like her podcast, coaching programs and shop — Rachel was already sold on its user-friendliness.
“It felt silly to have to email and outsource something as simple as a copy edit or photo change to someone,” Rachel said. “Now, I can do all of those things myself if I want to because Squarespace and its backend makes it so easy to do so.”
You might think organizing such large-scale events like REUNION would be a headache, but Rachel finds Squarespace’s Events page an excellent tool for showcasing upcoming shows.
Rachel dancing. @rachelmmolenda | Instagram
A newer feature on the Squarespace platform, it has quickly become one of Rachel’s favourites. Once people hear about REUNION, they can easily explore her work and access online guides and programs available in her shop.
“I see our Squarespace website being the landing pad where people hear about REUNION in passing from a friend and then land on our website to see a video capture of REUNION that instantly brings people into the experience and shows them how they can join the movement and be a part of it,” Rachel shared.
Rachel utilizes the blog and shop, which are integral to her website. The newsletter tool also plays a crucial role in nurturing leads from her DJ marketing strategy, and the shop enables her to connect with people wanting to buy resources and products easily.
Dancing into the future
Rachel claps and cheers at a dance party. @rachelmmolenda | Instagram
Her next business goal is launching REUNION merchandise, and she knows just where to start: Squarespace’s Custom Merch tool. With it, she can design and sell custom products with print-on-demand services — because who wouldn’t want to wear a piece of the party? But of course, that’s just the beginning.
“My ultimate goal is to host REUNIONs worldwide,” she said. “Whether it’s me touring REUNION in stadiums/arenas/concert venues around the world, or licensing REUNION and having ambassadors host them.”
Rachel’s advice for budding entrepreneurs is simple: “Oh gosh, just START anyway. You can’t wait until you feel ready because you may never feel ready.
“Plus, it’s completely normal to feel nervous about something you’ve never done before, so it just doesn’t make sense to use that as a reason to not go for something.”
With the help of the tools at Squarespace, you can ease those nerves about launching something new and make the journey toward your dream much smoother, no matter where you are.
With easy-to-use design features and a growing suite of indispensable tools, Squarespace will keep up with you wherever your adventure takes you.
To learn more about Squarespace, visit their website and follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
