Johnson uses gesture, rigorous movement, and (often) words to construct her nonlinear though (often) narrative based contemporary dance work. Believing in the act of performing, relishing self-production as much as being presented, and placing dances in a variety of locations - often outside the formal theatrical structure - has led Catalyst to perform in a wildly diverse range of venues, indoors and out, throughout the USA and in St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, and Montreal.

Catalyst's staged, site-specific, and public performance events often involve collaborations with poets, musicians, sculptors, and video artists. Known to take over a space, Catalyst will alter the feel of a building with sound and image installations, or offer a buffet table with free snacks and drink... all in the interest of creating memorable and engaging performance experiences that don't force, but encourage an active audience membership.

As a director, Johnson goes for the guts of performing, finding emotional resonance and meaning in layered bouts of chaos and calm. In recent months, she has focused her energy on creating smaller cast works, within the company, with international collaborators, and with solos on herself.

Catalyst regularly partners with community and environmental organizations, especially when touring Heat and Life, a dance work commissioned by the Walker Art Center, which is in the middle of a 50-state-tour of the USA and examines a human and terra landscape altered by global warming.

Catalyst produces capture! a bi-monthly dance-film series that has screened at the Byrant Lake Bowl since 2004. Capture! screens physically inspired experimental films from around the world and hosts Q & A sessions with filmmakers and choreographers.

Windfarm, the midweek experimental dance series Catalyst produces at the Rogue Buddha Art Gallery in Minneapolis is in its third year. The simple goal of Windfarm is to offer an informal space for experimental dances ready to be seen by the public.

In 2003 Catalyst released the DVD version of Plain Old Andrea, with a Gun, their "feminist-cowgirl parable" and collaboration with Minneapolis based experimental music ensemble Lateduster. Minneapolis' City Pages called it "...a fascinating, ritualistic look at the cultural perils that arise from the refusal to communicate." The DVD includes two versions of "Plain Old Andrea, with A Gun," a making-of documentary, and Lateduster live at the Walker Art Center.

In 2005 Catalyst released the film Wingspan 5'2" starring dancer Natasha Hassett. Wingspan 5'2" has screened at the Walker Art Centers Women with Vision Film Series, capture!, Dance Theater Workshop's dance-video series, "Captured," and numerous university film programs.

Catalyst is currently making a film of their dance work "Heat and Life."