Dans was born in Perth to Mary (née Frances) and Keith Dans. He moved to Kalgoorlie as a child, where he attended a convent school before going on to the Kalgoorlie School of Mines. Dans enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve in 1942, and served as a stoker aboard HMAS "Hobart". After the war's end, he joined the merchant marine, and became involved with the Seamen's Union. He served as state secretary of the union from 1959 to 1971. Dans was elected to parliament at the 1971 state election. He was made leader of the Labor Party in the Legislative Council in 1976, and elevated to the shadow cabinet in 1978. After Labor's victory at the 1983 state election, Dans was made Minister for Industrial Relations in the new ministry formed by Brian Burke. Following a reshuffle in December 1984, he was instead made Minister for Racing and Gaming and Minister for Tourism. Another reshuffle occurred after the 1986 election, and Dans became Minister for Works and Services, with responsibility for the 1987 America's Cup. He resigned from the ministry just over a month after the event's completion, and left parliament at the 1989 election.