While in school, he came to the attention of Alvin Ailey, who invited him to join his dance troupe.
Spears was a choreographer for the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, including choreographing dances in honor of the centennial of the Wright brothers' flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
The piece, evoking the courage of wartime flight, included a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen.
He also worked with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and the Joyce Trisler Danscompany.
Spears appeared in the film Dancer in the Dark for Lars von Trier.