Strange academic at dance (5)
I believe the answer is:
rumba
'dance' is the definition.
(rumba is a type of dance)
'strange academic' is the wordplay.
'strange' becomes 'rum' (similar in meaning).
'academic' becomes 'ba'.
'rum'+'ba'='RUMBA'
'at' is the link.
(Other definitions for rumba that I've seen before include "music one can dance to" , "Cuban folk dance" , "Caribbean dance" , "What to perform" , "Style of dance" .)