Dama is the Spanish word for a girl or young woman serving as a quinceañera court attendant.
The plural form, damas, traditionally refers to the female members of the court. They commonly participate in the formal entrance, group dances, photographs, and other planned parts of the celebration. In the classic arrangement, 14 damas accompany the quinceañera’s milestone year.
Dama should not be confused with madrina. A madrina is a female sponsor or godmother, while a dama is generally a young participant in the court. Chambelán is the corresponding traditional term for a male attendant.
Modern quinceañeras often change the structure. A court may be smaller, mixed-gender, made up of siblings and friends, or left out entirely. The vocabulary remains useful for describing the traditional format, but it does not dictate how every family must organize the event.