Dance publication backed return of fling (6)
I believe the answer is:
gambol
'dance' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'publication backed return of fling' is the wordplay.
'publication' becomes 'mag' (abbreviation for magazine).
'backed' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'return of' says the letters should be written backwards.
'fling' becomes 'lob' (I've seen this before).
'mag' written backwards gives 'gam'.
'lob' reversed gives 'bol'.
'gam'+'bol'='GAMBOL'
(Other definitions for gambol that I've seen before include "Frolic, caper" , "Dance" , "jump for joy" , "Caper and cavort (6)" , "Frisk, frolic" .)