Petite in life, dancing name (5)
I believe the answer is:
elfin
'petite' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'life dancing name' is the wordplay.
'dancing' indicates an anagram.
'name' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation e.g. on forms).
'life' anagrammed gives 'elfi'.
'elfi'+'n'='ELFIN'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for elfin that I've seen before include "Delicate, slight" , "Small, mischievous and charming" , "Sprightly" , "Little, charming and naughty" , "Small, with delicate frame" .)