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Nancee Cortés' dedication to the performing arts began as a young ballerina under the tutelage of Ivan Novikoff and Lillian Cushing and grew as she performed with such groups as The Robert Joffrey Ballet Company in New York City. While in New York, Cortés served as assistant choreographer to Robert Joffrey, as well as a teacher to several of his pupils. She also assisted Margaret Sande at Radio City Music Hall. Cortés was a director of the Connecticut Dance Academy, and in 1972 was appointed director of performing arts at the University of Southern California. In 1983, she began her employment with the University of Utah as consultant for the Department of Music. A year later, she became chair of the Department of Ballet. She served in that capacity for four years, then was made assistant dean for development at the College of Fine Arts. She has served and been active in her community since then. Nancee Cortés was married for twenty-four years to composer Ramiro Cortés, who died in 1984. In 1988, she married Ralph R. Hathaway, a biology professor at the University of Utah. He passed away in 1992.