Overcoming fears

The opening class began with a warm-up intended to take the students out of their comfort zones. The animal exercise, designed to loosen the body and build trust within the group, made Yu extremely nervous.

At first, Yu, who regularly takes the train from Tianjin to Beijing to take part in the program, stood frozen.

"I was immediately confronted with the absurdity of the task — especially in front of strangers. As the other people took turns imitating animals, I was forced to confront my fears of looking ridiculous, being judged, and I had to step away from my usual professional personas," Yu said, adding he is used to being the one in control.

Another student, Liu Jia, a 43-year-old from Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, said he found some of the tasks, such as public speaking and imitating animals, surprisingly challenging.

"I didn't know how to let go. I felt exposed, like I was being asked to do something I wasn't prepared for," said Liu, who works for a water company by day, and performs as a pub singer in the evenings. "I always stood in the corner of the classroom and felt reluctant about acting."

Despite feeling comfortable performing music, Liu, an admirer of Xiao Ke, said he had never acted in a serious theater production. When he applied, he believed the training would be a great opportunity to work with one of his idols, boost his confidence, and enhance his performance skills.

However, he quickly realized that singing and acting were two very different disciplines.