Dana Ciocarlie trained at the wellsprings of the Romanian piano school, like Dinu Lipatti, Clara Haskil and Radu Lupu before her. But she also studied in Paris, with Victoria Melki at the École Normale de Musique and in the classes of Dominique Merlet and Georges Pludermacher on the postgraduate course at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique. Her encounter with the German pianist Christian Zacharias was of decisive importance, in particular for deepening her exploration of the piano works of Franz Schubert.

Gifted with a mercurial temperament in which generosity vies with commitment, Dana Ciocarlie possesses an extensive repertoire ranging from J. S. Bach to the composers of today. Some of them have dedicated works to her, including Edith Canat de Chizy, Karol Beffa, Frédéric Verrières, Jacques Lenot, Helena Winkelman and Dan Dediu. She is recognised as one of the leading interpreters of Horatiu Radulescu.