Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Kahre.
Nicole, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love for dance goes back as far as I can remember. I grew up dancing competitively, then followed that passion to LA after high school to dance professionally. When I moved back to Colorado in 1998, I started teaching at what’s now Movement House, and I’m still there today. That same year, I also became Director and Choreographer for the Denver Nuggets Dance Team.
In 2006, I started working with high school dance teams, and that’s when everything came together. I loved bringing competitive-level training to high school dancers and watching them grow into who they were capable of becoming. Those teams went on to earn state and national titles, but it was always about so much more than trophies.
By 2015, I wanted to reach more dancers and more teams, so I started SPARK Dance Team Training Program- Colorado’s first mobile dance team training program. It’s since inspired others in the industry, and I’m proud to have helped pave the way.
In 2017, I added Mini and Junior programs so younger dancers could fall in love with dance early, build confidence, and feel connected to their future high school team and community. Today, thanks to an incredible team of teachers, SPARK runs 15 Mini and Junior programs across 8 Colorado school districts.
In 2024, SPARK partnered with Upswing, a non-profit, to bring together dance training, sports performance, and recovery under one roof. This supports the whole athlete, not just one part of their training, and makes elite-level training accessible to everyone.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see where this journey has led. But at the heart of it, it’s always been the same thing: helping young dancers find confidence, belonging, and a love for movement, and realize they’re capable of more than they imagined. I’m proud of what SPARK has become, and endlessly grateful for every dancer, family, teacher, and coach who’s been part of 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?
Has it been a smooth road? Definitely not. But honestly, I think life is all about the lessons we learn along the way and figuring out how to “dance outside the lines” when there isn’t a clear path in front of you.
Because SPARK was the first model of its kind, there wasn’t a roadmap to follow. There were no business plans, software services, or step-by-step guidelines telling me how to build a mobile dance team training program. Every part of what I’ve created has involved learning as I went, making mistakes, adjusting, and finding a way forward.
I’ve had to navigate everything from legal and business challenges to learning the individual rules and requirements of different school districts and facilities, as well as CHSAA compliance. Every district operates differently, and each new challenge has pushed us to create systems and a business model that make it all work.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change the journey, even the hard parts. Every obstacle taught me something I needed to know for the next step.
I’ve always believed that when you lead with pure intentions and passion, the right path reveals itself. Sometimes you have to create that path yourself, trust the process, and let creativity stretch beyond the dance room.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
SPARK was created to give dancers a place to start, grow, and keep going. Whether someone is brand new to dance or already dreaming about college or professional opportunities, there is a place for them here.
Our Mini and Junior programs serve dancers in kindergarten through 8th grade, building strong foundations while connecting them with their local high school dance communities. For high school dancers, that journey continues at Upswing Centennial, where SPARK provides elite-level dance training alongside certified sports performance training and a full recovery center.
I love that there isn’t one right way to experience SPARK. Some dancers come to enjoy being part of a team, while others discover a passion they want to pursue far beyond high school. Many of our dancers have gone on to dance in college and professionally.
Getting started is easy. Visit www.spark-dance.com to find a Mini or Junior program and register. High school dancers can learn more about training at Upswing Centennial at https://upswingfoundation.org/dance/.
SPARK is an open door. Come as you are, find your place, and see where dance can take you.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve never thought of myself as someone who takes big, reckless risks. For me, risk is having the courage to try something new, follow your curiosity, and be willing to see where it takes you.
Starting SPARK was definitely a risk, and there were plenty of times when it was scary. Would this new program work in this district? Would people actually sign up? Would schools see the value in something completely different? And eventually, when I made the decision to move the high school program from the mobile model I started with to Upswing, I wondered, “Will teams really drive to us instead?”
I didn’t have all the answers, and there was no blueprint for what I was building. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other, staying focused on the quality of the work and why I believed in it. Over time, the work started to speak for itself. People believed in it, dancers grew, teams saw the value, and the doors kept opening.
I’ve always believed that every opportunity is a door. It may stay open, it may close, or it may lead you somewhere you never expected. You don’t always know what’s on the other side, but sometimes you just have to trust yourself enough to walk through it.
That’s really how I’ve approached SPARK. I took the chance, stayed curious, kept learning, and let it grow into what it was meant to become. And somehow, it all worked out.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spark-dance.com upswingfoundation.org/login
- Instagram: @sparkdttp @spark.at.upswing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparkdttp https://www.facebook.com/UPSWING.Foundation
