Halloween isn’t the most highbrow of holidays. Youngsters dress up in outfits they could wear on no other day and gorge themselves on candy. And unless the kids are pagans, they won’t be making a special trip to church. In short, Halloween is about fun and games and a temporary suspension of social (and parental) constraints—not circumstances normally associated with going to the ballet. In this light, Neglia Ballet Artists offers a rare event for Halloween in its production of Baba Yaga, which is based on a Russian folk tale. The title character is a trollish witch who entices a young girl, Misha, to her cottage with the intention of devouring her. Veteran local production talent has been tapped for this presentation, with set design by David Butler and Mark DiVincenzo, lighting by Brian Cavanaugh and costumes by Donna Massimo. Principal dancers are the splendidly costumed Sergio Neglia (as Baba Yaga), Sherri Campagni and Rachel Zimmer. Thirteen-year old Rachel has been a promising student at Neglia School since age four, and she stars as Misha in her first major role. Rest assured, she escapes the witch’s evil clutches in the end.

An activity hour before showtime with a costume contest, snacks and a reading of Baba Yaga starts at 6pm.

Friday, October 27 at 7pm. UB Center for the Arts, Amherst Campus (645–ARTS) www.ubcfa.org. $15 (kids); $22 (adults).