Bonachela and 19 other semi-finalists were asked to create new works for the competition. The works of five finalists were performed at the Place, a London dance venue, for ten days.

In addition to the Ô£25,000 grand prize, voted by a panel of international arts figures, Bonachela won a nightly Ô£1,000 audience prize five times (Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter won the other five). Bonachela and his dancers also received a free trip to New York City from the Bloomberg company, a sponsor.

John Ashford, the head of the Place, created the Place Prize in order to provide British choreographers with a high-profile showcase along the lines of the Booker Prize, for literature, and the Turner Prize, for visual art. Its prominent backers include former Royal Ballet dancer Deborah Bull and choreographer Matthew Bourne.