The DanceX final 16 have sung and danced their way through gruelling auditions against thousands of others to get to the live shows. Tonight on BBC One, hosted by Ben Shephard, they performed solo for one last time, in the hope that Arlene or Bruno would give them the chance to join their group.

The groups are:

Team Bruno

Phoenix

Bruno said: “The boys have to be the rock of my group, the strength of the group. Range, versatility and power. The first rock that is going to be the mountain is going to be Phoenix.”

Marcquelle

Bruno said: “It’s very important to capture the moment and somebody tonight really captured the moment like I’ve never seen before and that person is Marcquelle.”

Daniele

Bruno said: “In the overall picture I need to cover a range and the entertainer tonight was Daniele.”

Rana

Bruno said: “To me it’s obvious. Every group has to have a diva. Rana!”

Marie

Bruno said: “Seeing what I have, I need an all round, somebody who will follow me and I think Marie will do so.”

Becky

Bruno said: “From what I’ve seen tonight there is someone I definitely want. I think she’s going to be amazing with my team and she knows what she’s doing. Becky.”

Claire

Bruno said: “I know it means a lot to you but I really need an instrument in my group and Claire you’ve got an instrument.”

Of his group, Bruno says: “It happened for me tonight and I got what I wanted. Commiserations Arlene…”

Team Arlene

Emanuel

Arlene said: “There’s one boy here I’ve believed in consistently up until tonight because he can sing, he can dance and he looks great and that’s what I need in my group. My first choice is Emanuel.”

Daniel

Arlene said: “Every group needs fans of all ages. I need the teenagers to fall in love with my group and my teenage daughter has told me the person to do it here tonight is Daniel.”

Kalvin

Arlene said: “My group will sing, and that voice is Kalvin.”

Ashley

Arlene said: “This will strike you to your heart Bruno. I am having the darling of the night – Ashley.”

Chelsey

Arlene said: “I am going for song and dance. I am taking Chelsey.”

Ife

Arlene said: “This is the hardest choice in the world but it’s Ife.”

Camilla

Arlene said: “Ye of little faith. I’m telling you that girl there will be dancing like the girl standing next to her.”

Of her group, Arlene says: “I lost the draw every time and I did want Rana but I love my group – they’re sultry, they’re sexy. Good luck Bruno – you’ll have a hard time beating me.”

Sadly, two contestants remained unpicked in the final dance-off. Going home tonight were Bobby and Jamie.

Arlene said: “These boys are so fabulous. Both of them can really dance but they don’t have enough of a voice.”

Jamie said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant. It’s a shame I haven’t gone through but I’m going to keep dancing.”

Bobby said: “I’ve had such a good time and want everyone to do so well.”

After a spectacular opening number, the girls performed their solo song and dance numbers and a random draw decided that Bruno would get first pick for their group.

The hot-trotting twosome then took it in turns to choose their favourite dancing divas, leaving the last two unpicked.

After the eight boys had gone through the same process, the remaining four contestants had one last chance to impress Bruno and Arlene with a four-way dance-off, before two were selected to complete the two groups of seven, and two were left to go home.

Next week, the groups go head to head for the first time in the battle to create the ultimate all-singing all-dancing group, and it will be down to the viewers to decide which team they think is the best.

After watching them dance in their groups for the first time the public will vote for either Arlene or Bruno’s team.

Whoever gets the least votes will have to nominate a member of their team to go home, leaving dreams of dancing into the final group behind them.

DanceX hopeful, Rana Roy has revealed that she has been greatly inpsired by former Spice Girl, Melanie C.

Rana danced in Mel’s single, ‘I Got Candy’ and was thrilled to be given some tips by her idol.

“Mel was really nice. I’ve always been a fan so it was great to work with her,” Rana told The People. “Seeing just how talented Mel is proved to be a massive inspiration for me. It was so surreal to finally be dancing for one of my childhood heroes. It made me so happy. Read more & comment »

DanceX finalist, Claire Mealor has spoken to the Daily Mirror newspaper today about her hellish battle with eating disorder, anorexia.

The Mirror reported:

Claire said: “I used to be the ugly fat kid. I never wanted to perform on stage even though I loved singing.

“I was badly bullied. Girls threatened to stick my head down the toilet and beat me up. They followed me home from school every day.”

It got so bad that Claire’s parents were forced to pick her up from Edgbarrow School in Crowthorne, Berks, every evening.

She recalled: “There were constant taunts and I couldn’t face walking home.”

At her heaviest, Claire weighed 11st, but she masked her true feelings.

She said: “I was always bubbly so the teachers and everyone around me didn’t realise how upset I really was.”

After dieting to just over 7st, Claire’s skin went grey.

She said: “Mentally, I couldn’t bring myself to eat. I knew the calorie content of everything.

“It wasn’t until a drama teacher said how bad I looked that I realised I had to stop myself.”

Claire’s weight went up to 9½st at university and she has stuck around that mark ever since.

The classically trained singer — she never had dancing lessons — is engaged to shop manager Kirk Budmish, also 23.

Kirk has been Claire’s personal trainer for BBC1’s DanceX contest, which pulled in 5.5million viewers last week and is expected to get even more for tonight’s show.

She added: “Kirk has taken me out jogging every day to improve my fitness. I just have to work twice as hard.

“When I perform, it will be two fingers up to the bullies. I’m going to go for my dreams.”

DanceX finalist has spoken of her devastation at Arlene Phillips decision to send her home from the DanceX finals.

“When Arlene told me I wasn’t through to the next round, I was absolutely devastated,” Chelsey told The Mirror. “I tried to blink away tears on television but when the cameras left I cried on the phone to my mum. It was my first audition and I wanted it so badly.

“Back on the stall in Skeggie, my head buzzed with plans to move to London for more auditions. So when Arlene tapped me on the shoulder I was so stunned I couldn’t speak.” Read more & comment »

Cormack, a 25-year-old Londoner, fell in love with dance after taking a performing arts course at his local college. Since then he has gained more dancing experience undertaking a BTEC national diploma in dance at Lewisham College, dancing at fashion shows and clubs and teaching street dance at his local gym. Read more & comment »

Marie, 23, from Kent first began dancing when her mum took her along to ballet classes when she was three. After graduating from Masters College in Kent with a qualification in performing arts and dance, she spent her time auditioning whenever she can.

When not attending auditions Maria has a number of jobs including teaching dance to primary school children and assisting at a school for people with learning difficulties. She also writes songs, plays keyboard and sings in a band consisting entirely of ginger-haired people called The Troubled. She is relishing being part of DanceX as it has given her the chance to just be herself and do something she loves.

At 27, Jamie is the oldest dancer in the competition. He began dancing when he was seven-years-old as way of keeping fit, following a chubby childhood. He went on to win disco dancing titles including Disco Kid UK, Mediterranean Champion and even World Champion. Read more & comment »

Becky, 24, is originally from Bangor in North Wales and is fluent in both Cantonese and Welsh. She began dancing when she was two-years-old and had learnt jazz, tap and modern by the time she was 11. Her dancing career has since taken her around the world, having Korea, America, Indonesia, Holland and Spain. Read more & comment »

At 17, Ashley is the youngest dancer in the competition. Before DanceX, she lived with her mum and younger sister in Sheffield whilst studying for her A-levels. Aside from dance, she is an excellent gymnast and trampolinist, having won many gold medals at championships around the country. In her spare time she loves to sing and often writes her own music on the PC at home. Read more & comment »

Kalvin, a 22-year-old Brummy, works as a part time dancer and teaches dance at local primary schools. He started dancing at 15 and over the past seven years has gone on to win over 200 disco dancing championships around the country.

After gaining a BTEC in performing arts he spent a year at Bodyworks in Cambridge before deciding to move to the prestigious Italia Conti School in London. He has provided backing dancing for many stars including Mystique, Kelly Llorenna, Peter and Jordon and the Cheeky Girls. He recently got down to the final audition stage for a new boy band but the auditions clashed with the DanceX recalls. He says getting through to the finals of DanceX is the best thing he has ever done and can’t wait for his family and friends to come and cheer him on.