Kindergarten milongas: “Do the math!”

(Three track tandas III)

A: Don't some organisers who ask for three tango tracks to a tanda just want to accommodate the many (paying) singles who go to meet and dance with others? I mean I think it's normal for people to want to do that.

B: Many milongas do that fine without shortening tandas. Shortening tandas does nothing to accommodate singles.

A: Except that they get to meet more people. I thought that was the point.

B: Wrong. Do the math.

A: Do you not get about another four or five tandas if you do them in threes over say 4 hours assuming 12 minutes for a tango tanda and 9 for a vals or milonga tanda with a minute's cortina each time?

B: You do. But that doesn't say you "get to meet more people".

A: Well then, if you do, in the organiser's mind I'd imagine they think an extra four or five changes is worthwhile. 

B: Do more math! :)

A: I don't follow! What's math got to do with that?

B: "more" is about arithmetic. If you work out how many different people you'd already have to have danced with before five changes could increase the quantity, you'll see why it is nonsense.

A: Oh, I see. Four hours with three tango tandas - of four tracks each - to an hour plus a vals and milonga tanda, gives about twenty tandas in four hours, compared to twenty four tandas if you play tango tandas with three tracks each. If you danced all tandas (of four tango tracks) and the vals and milonga you'd dance with twenty people. Even assuming you sat out say six of those you'd still dance with fourteen people: More than enough for most. So you hardly need the few extra tandas. I see why you think it's spurious.