The female attendants in a traditional quinceañera court are called damas. The Spanish word dama means “lady,” and the attendants usually coordinate their formal clothing with the event’s style.
A court may also include chambelanes, traditionally male attendants who accompany the damas and the quinceañera during formal entrances or dances. The size and composition of the court are not fixed. Some families include many attendants, while others choose only a few or omit the court entirely.
Damas are not the same as madrinas. Madrinas are usually godmothers or sponsors who may help provide clothing, decorations, or other elements of the celebration. The quinceañera is the honoree herself, not a member of the court.
Modern celebrations often adapt the tradition. Courts may be mixed-gender, use different titles, or include close friends regardless of gender. Nevertheless, damas remains the conventional Spanish term for the traditional female attendants.