Crossword Genius

About 50 soldiers going to a dance (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

salsa

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'dance' is the definition.
(type of dance)

'about 50 soldiers going' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'50' becomes 'l' (Roman numeral).
'soldiers going' becomes 'sasa' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'l' placed within 'sasa' is 'SALSA'.

'to a' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for salsa that I've seen before include "Hot dance - hot sauce" , "Latin American dance - spicy Mexican sauce" , "that's rather spicy!" , "Latin-American dance" , "fling?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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