In a traditional quinceañera, the waltz often follows the celebrant’s entrance.
The formal dance is commonly called the vals, the Spanish word for waltz. The quinceañera may dance first with her father or another important escort and then with members of her court. In many celebrations, the court has rehearsed a choreographed routine for the event.
The waltz became associated with formal European ballroom culture and was adapted into quinceañera customs in Latin American communities. Today, families may combine a traditional vals with contemporary music, themed choreography, or a second performance known as a surprise dance.
Not every quinceañera includes a waltz, and the dance does not have to follow the same order everywhere. The tango, flamenco, and polka are separate dance traditions. “Vals” is the most precise traditional term when the question refers to the formal quinceañera dance.