It's played after HQ dance (8)
I believe the answer is:
baseball
'it's played' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'after hq dance' is the wordplay.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hq' becomes 'base' (HQ is headquarters).
'dance' becomes 'ball' (ball is a kind of dance).
'base' next to 'ball' is 'BASEBALL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for baseball that I've seen before include "Popular American sport" , "Nine-a-side game" , "Summer sport of US" , "SPORT/GAME" , "Slab able to be used in the game?" .)