Avans Dance: The Dutch Trance and Progressive House Virtuoso

Avans Dance is the stage name of Dutch electronic music producer and DJ Arjan van Assen, a pivotal figure in the European trance and progressive house scene. Hailing from the Netherlands, he achieved significant commercial success in the early 2000s with his chart-topping single "I Need Your Lovin' (Like the Sunshine)" and a series of acclaimed artist albums.

Early career

Arjan van Assen formed the Avans Dance project in the late 1990s, emerging from the fertile Dutch dance music landscape. His early work quickly captured attention, leading to a signing with the influential indie dance label Cloud 9 Dance Division, where he released his first singles and began refining his signature blend of euphoric melodies and driving rhythms.

Breakthrough

The breakthrough for Avans Dance arrived definitively in 2002 with the release of the single "I Need Your Lovin' (Like the Sunshine)". The track, featuring the vocals of Lizzy K., became a massive club and radio hit across Europe, propelling his debut artist album, First Impression, to strong sales and establishing him as a mainstage talent.

Key tracks

I Need Your Lovin' (Like the Sunshine) — This 2002 smash featuring Lizzy K. remains his signature track, defining his crossover appeal between trance and commercial dance floors.

Take Me Away — A standout progressive house cut from his debut album, showcasing his skill for building atmospheric, emotive grooves.

I Want You — This later single exemplified his evolving production style, incorporating tougher, more tech-influenced elements while retaining melodic appeal.

Feel My Love — A collaboration with vocalist Denise, it highlighted his consistent ability to craft vocal trance anthems with broad international reach.

The success of his first album was followed by the well-received sophomore effort Second Wave in 2004, which solidified his reputation for high-quality, melody-driven productions. Throughout the 2000s, Avans Dance remained a prolific presence, releasing numerous singles and performing at major clubs and festivals, while his tracks were frequently licensed to prominent dance compilations globally.

Fans of Avans Dance's uplifting Dutch trance sound also frequently enjoy the work of Tiësto, who shares a similar foundation in melodic, large-scale arena trance. The driving progressive house elements in his music connect with the style of Armin van Buuren, another titan of the Dutch electronic scene. For the more vocal-centric side of his catalog, listeners gravitate toward Ian van Dahl, known for similar early-2000s dance-pop trance hits. The energetic, synth-led production is also reminiscent of Lasgo, which operates in the same euphoric dance domain.

The music of Avans Dance maintains a steady rotation on dedicated electronic music channels, particularly those focusing on classic and vocal trance genres. His anthems are staples on online radio streams specializing in 2000s dance music, ensuring his tracks continue to energize listeners who cherish that era's distinctive sound.

You can hear the iconic trance and progressive house tracks from Avans Dance on various radio stations featured here. Explore and listen to his music through the electronic and dance music stations available on onairium.com.