Trance is a melodic dance genre that emerged in early-1990s Germany — particularly Frankfurt — and consolidated in the Netherlands. Built around long, repetitive melodic phrases, slow chord progressions, and hypnotic builds, it sits between house's groove and techno's mechanical drive. Tempos run 130–140 BPM. The classic 1998–2005 era (Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten) made trance a global commercial force; the genre was eclipsed by EDM and progressive house by the early 2010s but has had repeated revivals. A State of Trance, Dreamstate, and Luminosity remain the genre's most important annual gatherings. Trance subgenres include uplifting, progressive, vocal, tech, and psytrance — each with distinct tempo and arrangement conventions.