Sponsors or honored providers at a quinceañera are traditionally called padrinos.
Padrinos are people chosen to support the celebration, sometimes financially and sometimes by supplying specific items or services. Depending on the family and region, they may help with the dress, cake, music, venue, decorations, or religious elements. Their participation acknowledges an important relationship with the celebrant and her family.
The feminine form is madrinas, while padrinos can refer to men or to a mixed group. A family may have several pairs of sponsors, each associated with a different part of the event. These arrangements are customary rather than universal, and many modern families pay for the celebration themselves.
Padrinos should not be confused with chambelanes, who are male members of the court, or damas, who are female attendants. The sponsor role is about support and recognition, not primarily about performing the formal dance.