Kabuki is a traditional Japanese dance-drama form that originated in the 17th century. Performances feature elaborate costumes, makeup, and wigs to convey character emotions and statuses. Kabuki was initially performed by women on riverbanks but grew rapidly in popularity. Today, Kabuki continues as a form of entertainment using stages, music, and trained actors to convey stories through dance and drama without dialogue. Actors rely on music cues and use elaborate makeup in specific colors to represent character traits and emotions. Costumes are extravagant and colorful, typically made of silk and embroidered.