Crossword Genius

Dance with a famous American artist (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hopper

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'famous american artist' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'dance with a' is the wordplay.
'dance' becomes 'hop' (hop is a kind of dance).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a' becomes 'per' (eg 'one a day' means 'one per day').
'hop'+'per'='HOPPER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hopper that I've seen before include "Cricket, perhaps" , "Edward --, US artist" , "One-legged" , "agricultural machine?" , "Funnel-shaped receptacle leading to a container below" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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