Who is The Eight Dwarves from Mirror Mirror and what is their importance?

The eight dwarves act as a collective.... a group. The do not act individually. Before Nextday leaves for Montefiore, the dwarves work in pairs, according to their numbers. After Nextday leaves, the collective becomes aware of itself as separate entities. When Bianca de Nevada arrives, the dwarves take on more human characteristics..... eventually becoming human themselves. Exposure to human emotions—love, fear, jealousy, and grief— is what enables them change.