The Spanish term commonly used for the young women in a quinceañera’s court of honor is damas.
Damas, literally “ladies,” are usually friends or relatives of the celebrant. They may enter in procession, stand with the quinceañera during formal portions of the event, and perform a choreographed dance with the court’s male escorts.
A traditional court can include both damas and chambelanes, although modern families often change the arrangement. The court may be large, small, mixed-gender, or absent. Clothing, dance style, and procession order are also highly personal and vary by region.
Damas are not the same as madrinas. Madrinas are female godparents or sponsors, while damas are usually young attendants participating in the public ceremony. English-language celebrations may call damas bridesmaids, attendants, or members of the court of honor, but those labels do not always describe identical roles.