On February 23, the Janusz Korczak Pedagogy Students’ Research Society hosted dr hab. Bernarda Anna Bielenia – Dean for programs at the Branch in Białystok of the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw.
Dr hab. Bernarda Anna Bielenia is a Doctor of Arts, a theatre, radio, and film director, and a journalist. She graduated in acting and directing from the Faculty of Puppet Arts in Białystok and the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. She has been affiliated with her alma mater as a pedagogue since 1995 and currently works in the directing program. For many years, she was associated with TVP (Polish National Television), contributing to the establishment of its Białystok center in its early years. She collaborates with the Vocal-Acting Studio in Białystok, where she stages musical performances. She is Vice President of the Białystok Association of Puppet Artists and a board member of POLUNIMY. In 2024, she was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit by the President of the Republic of Poland for “services to Polish culture.”
The purpose of the meeting was to gather guidance and valuable information on conducting artistic sessions with children. Since November of the current academic year, the Society has been running the “Meeting with a Book” initiative, launched by the Literary Section. This is a series of activities aimed at younger primary school students and preschool groups, during which students read a selected fairy tale in several stages. The story goes beyond mere reading – it comes to life through theatrical elements, movement, and creative integrative games. This approach allows the youngest participants to actively engage with the story, involving imagination, emotions, and various senses. The initiative aims to cultivate a love of books in children, foster creativity, and show that literature can become an exciting adventure – full of experiences, joy, and shared discovery of the world.
Classes within the framework of the “Meeting with a Book” initiative, organized by the Janusz Korczak Pedagogy Students’ Research Society
The meeting with the Professor was an opportunity to share experiences and reflect on the activities carried out so far. The guest listened to the students’ doubts and pointed out which aspects of working with children should be developed and which are better avoided. She also discussed the main types of theatre puppets – glove puppets, marionettes, jawajki, hand puppets, and shadow puppets. She emphasized that this is not the only way to create a stage character. A puppet can be made from seemingly ordinary objects – the key is how they are presented and perceived by a young audience. Even a simple sheet of paper or a scarf, used creatively, can become a vivid and easily recognizable character.
