In a traditional quinceañera, the Spanish word for the celebrant’s male attendants is chambelanes.
Chambelanes are members of the court who accompany the quinceañera during formal portions of the celebration. They may participate in a choreographed presentation, escort her during an entrance, or join her for a formal dance. The term is especially common in Mexican and Mexican American usage.
The court may also include damas, or female attendants. Some celebrations use a mixed group, while others have no court at all. The number of attendants is not fixed, so a quinceañera does not need a particular number of chambelanes to be traditional.
Chambelanes are sometimes mistakenly described as sponsors. Padrinos are godparents or sponsors who may help with expenses or ceremonial items; they are not the same as the young attendants performing with the celebrant.