The traditional name for the group of young women who accompany a quinceañera is damas.
Damas, meaning “ladies” in Spanish, form part of the celebrant’s court. They commonly participate in the formal entrance, choreographed dances, and other ceremonial moments. The court may also include chambelanes, traditionally young men who accompany the damas and the quinceañera.
The size and composition of a court are not fixed. Some families choose a large group, while others include only a few attendants or omit a formal court altogether. Members are often relatives or close friends, and their clothing may be coordinated with the quinceañera’s dress or the event’s colors.
A court is not the same as a group of madrinas. Madrinas are usually adult sponsors or honored supporters who may help provide items or services for the celebration. Terminology also varies by country, and modern quinceañeras may use mixed-gender or nontraditional courts. Damas is nevertheless the standard Spanish term for the female attendants in the classic court arrangement.