A young male escort in a traditional quinceañera court is commonly called a chambelán.
Chambelanes participate in the formal presentation and may dance with the quinceañera and other members of the court. The term is associated with the ceremonial court that accompanies the celebrant, especially during a choreographed waltz or other planned dances.
The court’s composition is flexible. Some celebrations include both male escorts and female attendants, while others use a smaller group, a mixed group of friends, or no court at all. A girl in the court is often called a dama, the Spanish word for “lady.”
Chambelán should not be confused with padrino, which means “godfather” and can describe an adult sponsor or ceremonial supporter. Madrina means “godmother.” These roles may overlap in a family’s planning, but the words do not name the same position.