The traditional formal group waltz at a quinceañera is called the vals.
Vals is the Spanish term for waltz, and the dance is commonly performed by the celebrant with members of her court. The routine may begin with a procession or a presentation and is often carefully rehearsed before the reception. In some celebrations, the court dances in coordinated formations while the quinceañera takes a featured position.
The vals is associated with European ballroom influence, especially the nineteenth-century popularity of the waltz. It became part of the formal presentation style connected with elite social events and later adapted into quinceañera customs in Latin America.
Not every quinceañera includes a vals, and modern families may replace or follow it with choreographed routines set to contemporary pop, Latin, or urban music. The word vals identifies the traditional waltz portion; it does not describe every dance performed during the party.