I’m Valerie, and I’m chasing my dream of becoming a DJ! After a tough year of hip surgery + losing my beloved Mammy , I’m ready for a fresh start. I’ve been accepted into the incredible PhDJ course that includes an Las Vegas Immersion ✈️✨—but I need your help to get there . Every donation brings me closer to creating safe, joyful dancefloors where music can lift us all ❤️.
Who I Am
Hi, my name is Valerie Maguire and, even though I’m no longer a spring chicken , that’s not stopping me—I’m about to embark on a whole new life chapter as a DJ!
Music and dance have always been my lifeblood , and after years of working in the Community and Voluntary sector (supporting people through mental health challenges, disability, domestic violence, coaching, and education), I now realise my Soul’s purpose is here: bringing people together through music and dance .
Why DJing? And Why Now?
Over the past year—while healing from double hip replacement surgery and mourning the loss of my beloved Mammy —I have had time to reflect deeply on what truly inspires me? The answer was hiding in plain sight all along: DJing .
I want to create spaces where people feel safe, free, and joyful on the dancefloor ✨. And not only do I want to DJ, I also want to teach young people this craft—because it’s not just fun, it’s also amazing for our mental health, something I’m deeply passionate about - and right now, our young people need every bit of support they can get.
I’ve already started my journey with a weekly music radio show on Athlone Community Radio. It began as For the Love of Music and has grown into For the Love of Dance Music, where I’ve now recorded over 30 episodes. With the right training, I’ll move from Spotify playlists to live DJ mixes—a perfect steppingstone towards DJing in clubs and festivals .
Why This Course?
I’ve been accepted into PhDJ (Powerhouse DJ) course, an 8-month program created by US DJ, Tasha Blank (whose work I’ve followed and admired for nearly a decade since I came across her amazing video We Came To Dance )
It’s no ordinary DJ course—it’s truly the gold standard. We’ll meet online bi-weekly and cover everything from:
- ️DJ essentials & live set feedback
- Storytelling & set creation
- Nervous system regulation (to build safe, expressive dancefloors)
- Leadership, integrity & holding space
- Event production & experience design
- Branding, marketing & building an ethical dance community
I love that it combines the technical mastery of learning how to DJ with the emotional intelligence needed to lead, teach, and nurture vibrant communities through music .
Why I’m Fundraising and What its for
I’ve found this amazing opportunity to take my skills to the next level which requires the following funds:
- PhDJ Course Fees: $2,000 (reduced from $10,000 thanks to being 1 of only 3 people accepted into the work-study program, where I support via Zoom tech + social media!)
- ️ ✈️Las Vegas Immersion Event $2,500– an in-person gathering where I’ll learn from world-class DJs, mentors, and connect with peers ✨
- Total Goal: $4,500 or €3,800
Normally, I’d cover these costs myself but after a year out of work recovering from surgery and grieving my Mammy, I simply can't do this right now. I’m now ready to return to work and rebuild, but this amount feels like a huge mountain to climb and I would never be able to collect it in time.
That’s why I’m asking for your help . Any support—big or small—will make such a difference in helping me step into this new chapter.
Anyone who contributes will be given their own individual thank you from me as I simply cannot thank you enough – anything you could give means so much!
Organizer
