Meet Erica Occhionero
We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Occhionero and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Erica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It all started with a broken dream. Since I was a child, dance was my world: I trained every day, dreaming of becoming a professional ballerina. But when I was 16, a scooter accident changed everything. I broke my ankle, but the fracture was initially mistaken for a simple sprain. That mistake shattered my chances of returning to serious dance training. It marked the end of a dream — and with it came deep pain.
During high school, things got even worse: I became the target of bullying. People told me I would never amount to anything; they even cut my hair against my will. It was a traumatic experience that triggered eating disorders and a complete loss of self-esteem. I felt broken, invisible, directionless.
The mindset that pushed me to start my own path came from that very place — the need to be reborn, to reinvent myself. When I discovered aerial dance — beginning by hanging a hammock from the ceiling of my bedroom — I felt like I had found a way to reconnect with dance without betraying my wounds. It wasn’t the same dance I used to know, but a new, personal form that allowed me to soar beyond both physical and emotional limitations.
I am completely self-taught: I learned on my own, observing, experimenting, falling, and getting back up. I didn’t have teachers or structured classes, just my determination and my body trying to find itself again. Dance became my refuge — and my way back to life.
After high school, I chose to enroll in a mathematics degree program, a subject that had always fascinated me with its logic, precision, and abstract beauty. It was a bold choice, especially considering the insecurities I carried, but mathematics became another powerful outlet for expression and personal redemption.
The true turning point came with my master’s thesis in mathematics, when I decided to unite my two greatest passions: mathematics and aerial dance. I mathematically modeled the movements I performed in the air, creating a bridge between two seemingly opposite worlds. It was a real leap into the unknown: there were no references, no guides — just me and my idea. But I did it. And that’s when I understood that even the impossible can become real, if it comes from something authentic. I also had the opportunity to perform at the University of Salento, where I first presented the theoretical part of my thesis and then danced in the air to demonstrate its practical application. It was a symbolic and powerful moment: a union of thought and body, mind and movement.
That’s how my journey began: as an act of courage, as a way to express who I truly am, and to send a message of hope to anyone who feels lost. Because every wound can become a work of art. You just have to find the courage to dance — even when the ground beneath your feet is gone.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is something deeply personal and unique, because what sets me apart from others is the way I transformed dance. Initially, the dance I practiced was traditional, providing me with a sense of expression and freedom. But after the accident that marked a turning point in my life, I felt the need to reinvent myself. I took the dance I used to do on the ground and brought it into the air. I began practicing aerial dance, which became my passion and form of expression, where I truly feel free. Aerial dance became my way of reclaiming my body, overcoming physical and emotional limitations, and turning challenges into an opportunity for growth.
Professionally, I have arrived where I am today through a long journey of challenges, sacrifices, and determination. It wasn’t easy. Every step I took, I earned it, every achievement was the result of a constant battle against difficulties, both physical and psychological. I faced bullying during high school, overcame an accident that changed my life, and had to find the strength to get back up every time life knocked me down. I have always done everything on my own: I taught myself, not only in dance but also in balancing my passion with my university studies. Mathematics, a subject I’ve always been fascinated by, became the fertile ground where I combined my love for dance with science, creating a master’s thesis that bridged two seemingly distant worlds.
Despite the challenges, I’ve managed to achieve many satisfactions, even on television. I’ve had the opportunity to appear on all the major Italian news programs, on various radio stations, and participate in several interviews to share my story. The dance I brought to the stage, along with my story of resilience, has resonated with audiences and the media, and I am proud of the journey I have taken. My performance on TV was described as unique, and that is one of many satisfactions that pushed me to keep believing in my dreams. Furthermore, I had the honor of participating in the finale of Ballando con le Stelle, an opportunity that gave even more visibility to my dance and the message I aim to convey.
What I want the world to know about me, my brand, and my story is that every step I took was the result of an inner strength that allowed me to overcome dark moments. I want to share my story with anyone who feels lost or hopeless. I understand exactly what it feels like to be alone, and how hard it is to move forward when everything seems against you. I know how important it is to have someone tell you: “You can do it.” That’s why my goal is not only to dance on big stages but to bring a message of hope to anyone who needs to hear that, even in the darkest moments, it is always possible to rise again and turn every fall into a new beginning.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting the area, I would definitely start with a tour that represents my personal journey of growth and rebirth. I would take him first to my little room, the place where it all began, where I hung my hammock for the first time and started experimenting with aerial dance. It’s a very special place for me, where every movement was a discovery and every fall taught me how to rise again.
Next, I would take him to a tree that played a significant role in my growth. After my little room, I needed more height to train, so my dad would climb that tree every day to hang the hammock for me. Those moments are deeply ingrained in my memory, and training there, in the open air, always gave me a sense of freedom and connection with nature.
Then, I would take him to the sea, one of my favorite places. There, near the shore, there’s another tree where I trained, hanging in the air, feeling the wind and hearing the waves. Training at sunset was one of the most beautiful and stimulating experiences I could imagine. The feeling of being immersed in nature, as the sky changed colors, gave me an incredible charge.
As for food, there are so many places to try. I would love to take him to various seaside restaurants where you can enjoy typical Apulian dishes with a spectacular view. And of course, a visit to Lecce is a must! The city is incredible, full of history, culture, and beauty. We could walk through the historic center, admire its Baroque architecture, and then stop at one of the many traditional restaurants to eat something local.
Throughout the week, I would introduce him to the most important people in my life: my parents, who have always been my guiding light, and my friends, who have supported me through difficult times. I’m sure that together, these places and people would convey to him a bit of my story, my roots, and the experiences that have brought me to where I am today.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a deep “shoutout” to my parents, who have always been by my side, never failing to offer their support, love, and presence. My father, with his rationality, has always helped me keep my feet on the ground, to reflect on the decisions I had to make, and to stay focused on my goals. My mother, on the other hand, has always believed in me, even before I believed in myself. Her unwavering trust and encouragement were the driving force that pushed me to never give up, to rise again every time life tested me.
They were a beacon of light when everything seemed dark, and I can only be grateful for having people in my life who have always given me the courage to chase my dreams, despite the challenges.
In addition, a huge thank you goes to my friends and all the people who stood by me. They are the ones who, in difficult moments, urged me not to give in, to let go of the bullying and injustices I had experienced.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erica.occhionero?igsh=MTN3ajAwZWs1OHlzeQ==
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-occhionero-81890312a/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1QpRDFZzQP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Other: ericaocchionero96@gmail.com la mia mail
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
