The formal dance presentation performed by a quinceañera and her court is traditionally called a vals.
Vals is the Spanish word for waltz. In a quinceañera program, the celebrant and her court may perform a rehearsed waltz before the event becomes more informal. The dance can include the damas and chambelanes, and sometimes the celebrant’s father or other family members join later.
The presentation often serves as one of the reception’s central ceremonial moments. Families may select traditional waltz music, a contemporary song arranged in waltz time, or a choreographed medley. Modern celebrations frequently add Latin dances, popular music, and group routines after the formal vals.
Not every quinceañera includes a waltz, and the term can describe the formal dance portion even when the choreography includes more than strict ballroom steps. The important distinction is between the ceremonial presentation and the later open dancing.