Questions about the Sarabande

Bob Ramos has sent me some interesting questions about the Sarabande and it's origines. But I am a rather "practically" orientated dancer. Therefore I don't know the answers.

May be someone can help?

May be someone can help? (You can use the comments link below)

Here is is Bob's mail:

In the very beginning, is there any chance that the sarabande, or zarabande, was in any way linked to african religious drumming or rhythm? It came from the Spanish colonies, not the French, correct?

the French took it over in France, not in the new world? is there any documentation that it is popular in Haiti or other French colonial holdings?

in your good opinion, has the Sarabande ever been used in a slow movement of a classical (or baroque) symphonic work? I know that it is prevalent in the dance suites.

If such an occurrence had happened, would you think the composer was trying to say with that statement?
(especially, say, if he was an Austrian (like Mozart) and was utilizing the slow French (or Spanish?) type - very grand, aristocratic, solemn and stately. it is common to have a complete repeat when performing it?

What can you tell me about using the sarabande in church music, like a requiem or something like that?
was that common/uncommon and what would that signify if used in religious setting?

Can you give me a brief on the Saraband types and how they evolved, what they came to signify over time?

when were the peaks of the usage, and when did it finally go out of fashion?
how big was it around Louis XIV?

Lastly, how do you make heads or tails of the dance chart that you have on your site? where do you start from, and what do all the figures mean?

I really appreciate your help ~!

thank you again
Sincerely
Bob