From the 1970s disco explosion to today’s EDM free-for-all, featured singers on dance tracks have become an increasingly frequent chart presence, with the guest spot often serving as an audition or promo for the singer’s subsequent solo turn. In honor of our Sam Smith cover story, here are 12 vocalists from dance hits spanning the past 25 years, all of whom went on to become stars in their own right, both on and off the dance floor.