In Athens, Ohio, a different microphone beckons every day of the week, encouraging the bold and the talented to perform. This is the story of open stages.

For belly dancer Ellie Olin, Athens is a place to express herself through Middle Eastern dance. Olin is one of two belly dancers who take turns entertaining the Saturday-night dinner crowd at Restaurant Salaam in Athens.

Appalachian Ohio seems an unlikely place to find elements of hip hop. But at Ohio University, the Hip Hop Congress promotes the culture in a way that adds to the richness and diversity of the Athens community.

Athens might not be home to the sheer volume of notable musicians as the Georgia town with which it shares its name, but the southeastern Ohio centerpiece puts up a good fight, at least talent-wise.