Kathakali, from the state of Kerala in southwestern India, is a true dance-drama. The Kathakali dancers act out the parts of different characters in a play. They dress up in outsize costumes to give themselves a larger-than-life appearance. They also wear masklike face make-up, in colours that have a strong, symbolic meaning. Kathakali performances are often held outdoors and sometimes go on all night. They are accompanied by a person who sings or speaks the poetry, while the dancers convey the meaning of each line with movements and gestures, including finger pointing, sweeping body movements, and wide, circling arm movements. In former times, male dancers took all the parts in a Kathakali play. But women now also perform in them.