Notes dance is a form of jazz (5)
I believe the answer is:
bebop
'a form of jazz' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'notes dance' is the wordplay.
'notes' becomes 'be'.
'dance' becomes 'bop' (bopping is a kind of dancing).
'be'+'bop'='BEBOP'
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for bebop that I've seen before include "Fast, complex jazz" , "Variety of jazz from the 1940s" , "Jazzy music style" , "Form of modern jazz from about 1940" , "1940s' jazz characterised by virtuosity" .)