About Us
Denver Contact Improv is a growing community of movers exploring connection, presence, and play through the practice of Contact Improvisation. We meet weekly at the WiggelRuhm at 125 S Sherman st Denver, CO to share space, listen with our bodies, and discover what movement can teach us about relationship. Contact Improvisation is a partner-based dance form rooted in shared weight, touch, and spontaneous interaction. It is open to all levels and all bodies. Whether you are new to the form or returning to it, you are welcome to join us.
The Instructor
Michael Bernal is a dedicated movement teacher with over 15 years of experience studying and teaching around the world. He also has 10 plus years of experience in Buddhist studies and practice which he integrates into his teachings. His work is rooted in Contact Improvisation, which he explores through the lenses of nervous system regulation, relational intelligence, felt physics, and somatic observation.
At the heart of Michael’s teaching is a deep commitment to cultivating spaces where people can move from a sense of disconnection to a genuine sense of belonging, both within themselves and in relationship with others. Accessing the body as a pathway toward presence, trust, and true connection.
Known for his thoughtful and intuitive facilitation, Michael creates learning environments that invite curiosity, support systems, and transformation. His passion lies not only in teaching but also in continuously learning and refining his own understanding of how we relate, regulate, and remember ourselves through the body.
Michael has studied with some of the best teachers around the world including but not limited to -
Nita Little, Alicia Grayson, Kira Kirsch, Joerg Hassman, Anya Cloud, Nica Portavia, Ray Chung, Keith Hennessy, Sara Shelton Mann, Sarah Konner, Ezra LeBank, Vega Luukkonen, Andrew Wass, Paul Singh, Irene Sposetti, Sergio Palomares, Gwen Ritchie, Adalisa Menghini, Ka Rustler, Hugh Stanier, Scott Wells
Over 5,000 hours of study and counting…
