In a quinceañera, the female attendants are traditionally called damas. The Spanish word dama means “lady,” and plural damas is used for the young women in the celebrant’s court.
Damas commonly appear alongside chambelanes, the male attendants, in the corte de honor. Depending on the family’s plans, they may take part in the entrance, wear coordinated formal clothing, and perform a choreographed dance with the quinceañera.
The word dama describes a role in the court rather than a compulsory age, family relationship, or legal status. Customs differ widely: some celebrations have several damas, some use mixed-gender friends, and some do not include a formal court at all.