Erika Ochoa is a contemporary artist of Middle Eastern dance, specializing in Egyptian-style dance.. She has been dancing professionally in the Chicagoland area for the past 20 years. She was born and raised in Mexico City, but has expanded her education outside the U.S. and Mexico, studying with Egyptian dancers and choreographers such as Yousry Sharif, Randa Kamel, Dina of Cairo, Dr, Mo Gedawi, Farida Fahmy, Mahmoud Reda, Abeer Will, Tito, Lubna Emam, Aida Nour, Nevein Ramez, Asmahan, Mohamed El Hosseny and Momo Kadous. She also travels regularly to New York City to study and perform with Samara at the Alvin Alley dance school. Erika's instruction and performance are sought throughout the Midwest. In addition to owning and managing Pineapple Dance Studio in Forest Park, IL, she teaches weekly at the Old Town School of Folk Music. She has been featured at workshops and classes at many private and public schools and art festivals all over the city, including the Old Town School of Folk Music's Folk and Roots Festival, La Feria del Libro, Chicago Botanic Garden and the African Arts Festival at Washington Park. Erika also sponsors dance workshops through Pineapple Dance Studio, offering local dancers an opportunity to study with a wide variety of Middle Eastern artists. She has performed at well-known venues including the the Chicago Cultural Center, the Field Museum, Silk Road Festival at Millennium Park and Navy Pier.