What group of attendants traditionally participates in a quinceañera’s formal dances?

The group of attendants traditionally participating in a quinceañera’s formal dances is the court of honor.

A court of honor usually consists of close friends, relatives, or both. Its members may be called damas and chambelanes: damas are female attendants, while chambelanes are male attendants in common usage. The court accompanies the celebrant during an entrance, a waltz, or other choreographed performances.

The size and composition of the court are flexible. Some celebrations have many attendants, while others include only a few people or no formal court at all. Modern families may choose an all-girl, all-boy, mixed, or family-based group.

The court of honor is sometimes mistakenly called a bridal party. Although both groups may stand with a central honoree and participate in formal entrances, a quinceañera is not a wedding. The court’s role is ceremonial and social, supporting the celebrant during her fifteenth-birthday celebration.