The Spanish word for the quinceañera’s female attendants in the traditional court of honor is damas.
Damas are young women or girls who accompany the quinceañera during formal parts of the celebration. They may take part in the entrance, posed photographs, religious observances, and a choreographed waltz or other dance. Their clothing is often coordinated with the celebrant’s dress or the event’s color scheme.
The male attendants are traditionally called chambelanes. Together, damas and chambelanes make up the corte de honor, or court of honor. The arrangement is customary rather than compulsory, and many contemporary families adapt it to include close friends or relatives of different genders.
Damas should not be confused with madrinas. Madrina is the feminine form of padrino, meaning a sponsor or godmother, while dama identifies a ceremonial attendant. Usage can vary by country, but damas is the standard plural term in descriptions of the traditional court.