Today we’d like to introduce you to Gitana De La Rosa, PhD.
Hi Gitana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Legacy of Festival on the Nile: 1989–2025
A Love Letter to Dance, Devotion, and a Dream Kept Alive
In 1989, a dream began—not with bright lights or grand stages, but with heart. Sheri and Bobby Bernard, partners in both life and vision, launched Festival on the Nile not as dancers, but as artisans—creators of stunning, hand-beaded bedlah and jewelry. With their eye for beauty and deep appreciation for Middle Eastern culture, they saw an opportunity: bring dancers together and share their craftsmanship through a festival that would become a cornerstone of the bellydance community.
The name Festival on the Nile had first been used the year before, in 1988, by a mother raising money for her son’s cancer treatment. When Sheri and Bobby respectfully asked to carry it forward, she graciously agreed. The name, like the festival itself, was not owned—it was shared.
Back then, the festival was modest—a 2-day affair with a Friday night hafla and a Saturday evening live music show, often with the legendary Mike Gregorian Band. Dancers, especially teachers, could perform 6-8 minute sets, blending seamlessly with the music in a way that was unhurried and rare. There was just one teacher per year, offering deep immersion in one style.
But times were changing. When American Tribal Style Bellydance emerged with power and popularity, Sheri and Bobby adapted. The festival grew into two full tracks: Egyptian/Turkish/Folkloric and Tribal Fusion, taught in separate rooms with stages hand-built each year by Bobby himself. A craftsman through and through, Bobby poured love into every plank of wood, while his dear friend and longtime vendor Bipin Jain brought treasures from afar, always standing beside him.
The festival wasn’t just about dance—it was a community, a quirky family. Stage managers Wanda and Dawn kept things lively, once sweeping the stage with a leaf blower or handing chicken out of her purse, to a hungry musician mid-show. Everything was done by hand—registration by mail, forms written out, logistics wrangled with love and sheer willpower.
As the years passed, Festival on the Nile grew so beloved that it ran twice a year. But tragedy came in 2010 when Sheri passed away suddenly from cancer. Bobby was devastated. She had been the heart of it all. He almost let the festival go.
But love—especially the kind that builds communities—doesn’t fade easily. Dancers who had made Festival their home begged Bobby to continue, and eventually, he did. Despite aging hotels, rising costs, and vanishing volunteers, he kept it going. But as the world grew more digital and he did not, the burden became overwhelming.
That’s when Gitana de la Rosa stepped forward.
Gitana had been attending Festival since about 1998. She wasn’t just a dancer; she was a believer in its magic. After Sheri’s passing, Gitana began quietly volunteering—building Bobby’s first website, introducing online registration, and managing social media with a gentle hand. She didn’t ask for credit; she just did what needed to be done. As Bobby’s health declined and the festival dwindled to just 28 attendees, Gitana kept showing up. She built email lists, donated equipment, revamped marketing, and reimagined what the Festival could become.
Wanda, once the heart of backstage, called Gitana with new she was entering the hospital for the last time, to pass on the torch of show director, before she passed away.
Bobby, too, knew his time was nearing. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he asked Gitana to take over the Festival entirely. She promised him she would see it through to the 50th.
And she did.
Under Gitana’s leadership, Festival on the Nile International became something dazzling—a four-day, multi-track, full-immersion dance intensive vacation held at the luxurious Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort. She brought in 13 national and international teachers, multiple bands, and world-class vendors. She raised the production to cinematic heights, with four-camera shoots, Las Vegas-style lighting, theatrical backdrops, concert tags, and elegant gala dinners. She created Oasis Dreams, a recorded Friday night show, and Raq the Pyramid, a Saturday night gala dinner and concert. She even brought two bands—Tony Tahan Trio from the East and Georges Lammam Ensemble from the West—together under one roof for a once-in-a-lifetime musical moment.
She curated unforgettable parties: Maharajah Flamenco Trio Dinner Show, a Hawaiian luau, and breakfast cafés with legendary instructors. She introduced selfie stations, professionally curtained stages, and 3D banners, blending old-world charm with new-world glamour.
But Gitana never lost sight of the soul of the Festival: community, inclusivity, love.
She opened the stage to dancers of all backgrounds, all ages, all levels—not just the “showy” ones. She made sure volunteers greeted every guest with warmth. She created a space where everyone felt seen. Her vision wasn’t about status; it was about belonging. She also set out to create a top tier line-up of the very BEST teachers focusing on merit, diversity and inclusion.
Even as Bobby could barely walk, he still drove his electric wheelchair through the ballroom, hauling costume wagons behind him. When he saw the Saturday night show Gitana had produced a few years back, he looked at her with tears in his eyes and said:
“I know this event is in good hands.”
On June 12–15, 2025, Festival on the Nile International held its final event—the 50th celebration of a legacy that spanned generations.
It was not just a festival. It was family.
It was not just a show. It was history.
It was not just a name. It was home.
Bobby and Sheri Bernard created something from love.
Gitana de la Rosa made sure that love never faded.
If you were lucky enough to experience Festival on the Nile International, then you became part of something eternal—a legend of devotion, joy, and dance that will echo forever in the hearts of those who lived it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Was it always smooth sailing?
No, not at all.
Over the decades, Festival on the Nile weathered many storms—personal, cultural, and communal. There were illnesses, losses, unexpected detours, and changing tides in what dancers wanted from an event. Sheri’s sudden passing in 2010 left a void that seemed impossible to fill. Wanda, the heartbeat of the backstage, faced repeated hospital stays before offering her final wisdom to Gitana days before her passing. Bobby, the constant pillar behind the festival, struggled with Alzheimer’s and watched his health slowly decline, even as he tried to carry on with the event he loved so dearly.
And still… the Festival endured.
There were times when the larger dance community around it was fractured—when jealousy or competition whispered at the edges. Other events came and went, and sometimes, those in positions of influence tried to cast shadows on the Festival’s light. But rather than succumb to bitterness or conflict, Festival on the Nile remained anchored in something deeper: love, unity, and legacy.
Gitana de la Rosa never fought those battles out loud. She simply stayed the course. With grace and quiet resolve, she made sure Festival on the Nile never became a place where cliques could form or status determined who got to shine. She believed deeply that everyone—regardless of age, background, or experience—deserved a place to be seen, to grow, and to dance.
That belief became the foundation of the modern Festival. In an era where other events began to narrow their stages to only the trendiest or the most elite, Festival on the Nile expanded. Gitana opened the doors wider. She put older dancers on the same stage as rising stars. She invited voices from across the globe and styles from across cultures. And through it all, she never asked for credit—only that the heart of the festival continued to beat strong.
Through COVID, the loss of founding figures, and the ever-shifting sands of the dance world, Gitana guided Festival on the Nile forward—not by force, but with fierce love and quiet strength.
Because in the end, the Festival was never about being the biggest or the flashiest. It was about being the most welcoming. It was about honoring the roots planted by Bobby and Sheri Bernard, while adapting to the future with creativity and care. It was about saying yes to the dancer who thought their time had passed. Yes to the newcomer unsure if they belonged. Yes to the artists ready to rise.
And that is why Festival on the Nile International not only survived—it thrived.
It became a safe haven, a launchpad, a celebration of life through movement. And it did so because one woman carried a promise in her heart and never let it go.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Meet Gitana de la Rosa
Creative Visionary, Cultural Curator, Silent Hero of the Stage
Gitana de la Rosa is a multidimensional artist, educator, cultural and fusion producer whose work spans over three decades and bridges the worlds of academic research, theatrical direction, global dance, and large-scale event production.
With two Bachelor’s degrees in Theater and Art, a Master’s in Costume Design and History, and a Ph.D. in Human Sciences, Gitana’s career has been shaped by an unrelenting curiosity and deep respect for culture, storytelling, and community. Her doctoral research—focusing on sustainable materials and renewable practices—is still referenced today, contributing to ongoing innovation in sugarcane-based textiles and environmentally conscious clothing.
But her work doesn’t stop at the page or the classroom.
For over 28 years, Gitana has immersed herself in Middle Eastern, Polynesian, and Flamenco Fusion dance, studying, performing, and teaching with heart and precision. She is a choreographer, dance educator, and producer, as well as the founder of two renowned troupes: Firestorm and Kahu Ahi. Her choreography draws from global traditions but is rooted in authenticity, emotion, and cultural respect.
At just 20 years old, Gitana was mentored by English stage director Phillip Church, who recognized her eye for movement and her natural leadership in a field where female directors were still rare—especially in the U.S. That mentorship sparked what has become a 37-year career in direction, encompassing theater, dance, and multidisciplinary stage production.
Gitana is perhaps best known in the dance world as the woman who revived and reimagined Festival on the Nile International, a once-small community event founded by Bobby and Sheri Bernard in 1989. When the Festival faced extinction after the loss of Sheri Bernard in 2010, and the disruptions of the COVID-19 era, Gitana stepped into a higher role with no expectation of reward. Out of loyalty to the Bernards and the many dancers who called the Festival “home,” she transformed it into a four-day international dance vacation, hosted in a luxury resort, with thirteen teachers, world-class musicians, cinematic lighting, and a professional production stage. Under her leadership, the Festival became the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States, widely recognized for its inclusivity, artistic excellence, and sense of community.
Gitana is also a visual storyteller. A passionate photographer and cinematographer, she brings theatrical magic to every frame, producing professionally edited show films, behind-the-scenes features, and visual campaigns that showcase dancers of all ages, levels, and styles. Her work behind the camera is matched only by her ability to see people—really see them—and uplift them through opportunity, mentorship, and kindness. Although she always loved photography, her love for film and cinematography actually started her company Firestorm Productions Inc and her love for all things cultural began her non-profit Embrace World Cultures.
She has won numerous awards throughout her career, including two second-place international medals for hula with her dance partner Kini. Her dedication to learning took her around the world—including to Egypt – she worked multiple jobs to make her dream of travel a reality.
Behind the stage lights, Gitana lives a life grounded in care. She is a rescuer of animals, with a home full of beloved cats and dogs, and an avid gardener who cultivates a sanctuary for butterflies, with up to nine species of caterpillars gracing her garden each year.
Above all, Gitana de la Rosa is a woman of loyalty, resilience, and quiet strength. She has helped countless individuals in times of need—never asking for acknowledgment, always choosing service over spotlight. Her work speaks not only of artistic brilliance but of a heart that believes in lifting others, honoring tradition, and creating spaces where everyone—no matter their age, background, or ability—can shine.
What does success mean to you?
How does Gitana de la Rosa define success?
For Gitana de la Rosa, success has never been about accolades, titles, or spotlight. It lives in the quiet spaces—in the moments of connection, the impact on others, and the joy of living a life rooted in authenticity and purpose.
She defines success as family—not just by blood, but the chosen family we build through shared experiences, mutual respect, and unconditional support. Her greatest accomplishments are the people she’s helped rise: the dancers who discovered their voice on her stage, the artists who found confidence under her wing, the students who left her classes not just more skilled, but more whole.
Helping others find their gifts—and showing them how to honor and trust those gifts—is central to her mission. Whether it’s through mentorship, choreography, teaching, or simply listening, Gitana believes that lifting people up is the truest form of leadership. She celebrates success not by how much she achieves, but by how much light she can reflect back into the world.
Her guiding compass is always: Do what is right. Stay true to your values. Serve with love.
For Gitana, success is found in knowledge, wisdom, and joy—in being a lifelong learner, in asking deeper questions, in honoring both ancient traditions and new visions. Her Ph.D. work, her deep cultural studies, and her commitment to meaningful storytelling are reflections of a mind that never stops growing, and a heart that never stops giving.
But success isn’t only in the grand productions or long hours behind the scenes. It’s in the little things, too.
Success is watching a sunset from a quiet dock.
It’s the sound of laughter on a beach with friends.
It’s raising butterflies in her garden and rescuing animals in need.
It’s making something by hand—a gift, a costume, a meal—and seeing someone smile because of it.
It’s knowing she made someone’s day better, even if they never knew it was her.
Gitana de la Rosa measures her life not by wealth or fame, but by how high she can raise the vibration around her. She walks through the world with integrity, compassion, and an artist’s soul, guided by a deep inner knowing that true success is a life well-lived, a heart well-used, and a legacy built on love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://festivalonthenile.com
