A traditional quinceañera court usually has 14 damas.
Together with the honoree, the fourteen damas represent fifteen young women, corresponding to the fifteen years celebrated. The court may also include fourteen male attendants, often called chambelanes, although the exact arrangement varies.
The court traditionally performs a choreographed entrance or waltz. In contemporary celebrations, families may choose a smaller court, an all-female group, mixed-gender attendants, or no court at all. Therefore, fourteen is the conventional traditional number rather than a requirement.
The damas are attendants, not the honoree herself. The word quinceañera can mean the girl being celebrated, while dama refers to a member of her court. Regional terminology and ceremony formats differ substantially.