Carl Edward Long,  Happy Nia Co-Artistic Director    He has studied dance since he was 15 years old. A vocal performance & dance major (Trinity Valley College) where he received an Associates of Arts. At TVC he was the student dance instructor and choreographer for the world famous "Cardette" precision drill team, choreographed for the Miss Texas America Scholarship program. Currently he serves as the Artistic Director of the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Dance Ministry where he provides creative and spiritual growth of the dancers. At Pilgrim Rest, The Tribe of Judah, Shabach, Essence of Praise and the WFAM Steppers are the adult, teenage, children’s and Step ministries respectively that were created under Minister Long’s leadership.The former Co-Artistic Director of the Mahogany Dance Theatre, Carl has studied ballet, jazz, & tap dancing with notables: Arthur Mitchell, Buster Cooper, James Clouser, Melvin Purnell. He has danced with the Houston's Theatre Under the Stars, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Vaudeville Theatre Co. Carl was also a camp instructor with the World Cheerleading Council.  Currently he works for The Dallas Morning News where advertising system management is his profession. At the News Carl also founded a vocal ensemble formed at his workplace called the"Voices of News", a group of singers that appeared on “Good Morning Texas”.

Every year he coordinates & choreographs 200+ praise dancers for the Martin Luther King Civil Rights Concert at the Meyerson Symphony Cente produced by the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, (which is nationally televised). Minister Long has choreographed for the National Baptist Convention and The Gospel Music Workshop of America (Metroplex Chapter), Worship Alive - Praise Dance Celebration annually at the Black Academy of Arts & Letters, "Gut Bucket Gospel" a Gospel Musical Revival featuring Dallas based Gospel Artists with the Black Academy of Arts & Letters. Under Carl's leadership the Pilgrim Rest Dance Ministry The Adult Group “The Tribe of Judah” was awarded the 2003 Steeple award as the Most Outstanding Adult Praise Dance Group for excellence in Christian Ministry. The Tribe of Judah was the focus and study of an article in The Wall Street Journal “Spirited Debate, Dancing in the Church.”   This article was published nationally. In 2007 The Gospel Announcers Guild voted Carl Choreographer of the Year.“God has given me the awesome responsibility of spreading His message through the dance. “No accomplishments in my life equals the joy and fulfillment I receive when worshipping and praising God with the dance. God will grant you the desires of your heart. I thank Him every day for what He has given me”.  "Whatever you do, whether you eat, drink or sleep, do it all for the glory of God!

Carl E. Long, Co-Artistic Director
HappyNia Dance Theatre
HappyNia Dance Theatre