Crossword Genius

Level-headed artist retires in a number of stages perhaps (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arenas

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'a number of stages perhaps' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'level-headed artist retires' is the wordplay.
'level-headed' becomes 'sane' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'artist' becomes 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'retires' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'sane'+'ra'='sanera'
'sanera' reversed gives 'ARENAS'.

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for arenas that I've seen before include "Areas for events, sports perhaps" , "Central areas of, say, sports stadiums" , "Areas in centre of amphitheatres" , "rings" , "Areas of endeavours" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.
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