Crossword Genius

After a dance composing sad songs (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ballads

'songs' is the definition.
(I know this)

'after a dance composing sad' is the wordplay.
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a dance' becomes 'ball' (ball is a kind of dance).
'composing' is an anagram indicator.
'sad' anagrammed gives 'ads'.
'ball' next to 'ads' is 'BALLADS'.

(Other definitions for ballads that I've seen before include "Popular songs" , "Soppy songs!" .)

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